JAMES “JIM” ROBERT RIFFLE, SR.
James “Jim” Robert Riffle, Sr., 83, Latour, Missouri, was born July 10, 1937.
He was the son of Frederick Thomas and Glada Elizabeth (Plank) Riffle.
He departed this life April 2, 2021 at KU Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 83 years, eight months and 23 days.
On November 29, 1957, he married Shirley May Snell of East Lynne, Missouri.
They raised two children, James Robert Riffle, Jr. (Bob), and Diana Lynn (Riffle) Cotton, Harrisonville. They were happily married for 63 years.
Jim grew up on a farm near Quick City, Missouri with his six brothers and sisters.
He graduated from Latour High School in 1955 then went to work for Stahl Specialty Company in Kingsville, Missouri, where he worked for several years.
He would work all day at Stahls and would farm before and after work, but always came home with something in his lunch box for the kids to share.
He always called the family on their birthdays to sing to them.
Jim spanned the generations with his generosity and love.
He always had a joke to tell you and a friendly ear to hear your happy stories or your problems and tried to give you good advice.
Even in his last hours, he was telling jokes to the doctors and nurses and telling them how much he appreciated them for the good care he was getting and that he loved them all.
When Jim was made, they broke the mold.
He was a pillar of strength and love to all of us, and always made time for anyone who needed him.
He is survived by his wife Shirley, of the home; his daughter, Diana Cotton (Jody) of Harrisonville; four grandchildren, Lisa Riffle (Jordan), Harrisonville, Jodie Cotton-Perretti Harrisonville, Linda Grice (Jonathan), Nixa, and Shawn Cotton, Harrisonville; four great-grandchildren, Lydia Perretti, Kendry, Reese and Dexter Grice; two brothers and two sisters: Richard Riffle (Carolynn), Garden City, Don Riffle (Gail), Harrisonville, Barbara Davis, Independence, and Beverly Andes (Berle), Garden City; and many more family and friends. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Bob, in 1996; two brothers, Raymond Riffle and John Riffle, and wife Barbara; and his brother-in-law, Bill Davis.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at the Heart of Life Church, Garden City, Missouri.
Burial was in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.
The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Riffle Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of The Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of The Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.
