Jim Huddleston

(From Parker Mortuary)

Mr. James Hughes “Jim” Huddleston, 79, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life to join his heavenly Father, on Monday, February 24, 2020, at Westgate at Wildwood Ranch, after a hard fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Jim entered this life on June 10, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, son of Loraine Horine Kimberly and Robert Kimberly. Jim was later adopted and raised by the late Emmanuel and Tilda (Turner) Huddleston Craig. He was raised in Joplin, Missouri and was a 1958 graduate of Joplin High School. Following high school, he attended Joplin Junior College. He served his country faithfully in the United States Navy from 1960 until his honorable discharge in 1964.

 He married his high school sweetheart Connie Rutherford on June 19, 1959 and to this union two daughters were born. Jim and Connie eventually divorced. On December 20, 1972, he married Phyllis Alexander, locally known as POJ and MRS POJ, they shared forty-six years before her passing on January 20, 2019. 

Jim was a salesman his entire life. He owned and operated Huddleston Insurance, Huddleston 4 Advertising and 408 Taxi Service for over thirty years. On Christmas Eve of 2012, Jim fell and broke his hip, forcing him to fully retire. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and several area civic organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis Huddleston; and two siblings, Lloyd Huddleston and Grace Gilbreth.

Jim is survived by his two daughters, Tracey Lamarr and husband, Tim, of Waxahachie, Texas and Lee Ann Robertson and husband, Rob, of Joplin; four stepchildren, Eugene Williams and wife, Donna, of Groveland, Florida, Rick Williams and wife, Deborah, of Deltona, Florida, Sherri Kania and husband, Mike, of Sanford, Florida and Terri Bentz of Joplin; a cousin Jack Horine of Joplin; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2020, at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, 602 South Byers Ave., Joplin. Internment will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers are his sons-in-law, Rob Robertson and Tim Lamarr, grandsons, Aaron Winnett and Sam Robertson, and dear friends, Mark Norris and Steve Onstot. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.