James Lankford

James Bryan "Jim" Lankford, son of the late Bryan and Mary Evelyn Ellis Lankford, was born in Essex, Missouri on September 3, 1938, and passed away at his home near Dexter on August 28, 2013, at the age of 74 years, 11 months and 24 days. He had lived in Phoenix, Arizona from 1967 to 1994 when he moved back to Southeast Missouri. He had been a resident of Dexter since 2010. He was retired from the Salt River Project as an Engineer Technician and was a member of the Essex Methodist Church in Essex, Missouri. On October 4, 1958, he was married to Bonnie Rodgers in Essex, Missouri. Surviving are his wife, Bonnie Lankford of Dexter, Missouri; one daughter & spouse, Susan & Don Rapp of Scottsdale, Arizona; one son & spouse, Bryan Keith & Tina Lankford of Houston, Texas; 2 grandsons, Thomas Rapp of Scottsdale, Arizona, Tristen Lankford of Houston, Texas; one granddaughter & spouse, Jessica & Brian Johnson of Scottsdale, Arizona; one great grandson, Gavin James Johnson of Scottsdale, Arizona; two sisters & spouse, Ruth & Don Stuckey of Medora, Illinois and Sheila Hester of Essex, Missouri; one brother & spouse, Glen & Janice Lankford of Bloomfield, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive. Visitation will be Saturday, August 31, 2013, after 9:30 a.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 31, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Roy Sherfield of Dexter, Missouri officiating and the Rev. Ernie Rodgers of Poplar Bluff assisting. Interment will be in the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Essex Methodist Church, 110 Darby St., Essex, MO 63846, and Preferred Hospice, 423 US Bus 60, Dexter, MO 63841.