James Gammon, 83 of Drexel, Missouri passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Cox Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (660-679-0009).
A visitation will be held prior to the service Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am also at the chapel. Burial will follow in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Drexel First Baptist Church. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
James Ralph Gammon was born May 27, 1937 near DeQueen, Arkansas to Calvin Roe Gammon and Nola Inez McRae Gammon.
Jim accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior as a teenager and lived close to Him his entire life.
Jim and Sue first found each other through their love of music, starting with school activities like concerts and contests.
Jim led the singing and directed the choir, along with Sue playing the organ and piano, at Drexel First Baptist Church for about 50 years. He also directed many cantatas, shows and led the music at many revivals. Jim and Sue sang and played at hundreds of weddings and funerals.
Lots of Jim’s best memories were of his annual fall trips to Colorado with friends and family. They ate lots of the best fish and fried potatoes, and drank the best coffee in the world. The mountains and scenery he saw can only be topped by what he is seeing now.
Jim’s primary career was with the US Postal Service. After retirement, He drove a school bus for Drexel School District for 15 years. He loved all his bus kids and they loved him too. After the bus years, Jim and Sue loved spending their winters at Rogers Ranch in San Saba, Texas. They loved going to church there and made so many wonderful friends and had so much fun doing things like eating out and going on rattlesnake hunts. Lots of great family Thanksgivings spent at the ranch gave us all great memories of Jim as the head of our family.
Jim was a sweet and loving man and will be missed so much by his family and friends. He is now happily enjoying eternity in Heaven singing and directing the choir.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Frances Anderson and brother Calvin Gammon. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sue Long Gammon, three sons, Alan and wife Andrea, Roger and wife Laura, and Randy and wife Lisa. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, he loved attending their games and activities, Allison Hails (Adam), Aaron Gammon (Laila), Austin Gammon (Ashleigh), Calvin Gammon (Ashley), Arielle, Alex, and Josh Gammon, Roe Gammon (Bethany), and Lauren Waln (Jake).
He also leaves behind eight great-grandchildren, Isaac, Brooklyn, Windsor, Ellis, Sebastian, McKinley, Sophie, and Aiden, along with several nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
