James Kilgore
Posted: July 24, 2012
Tupelo — James Ewell Kilgore, 60, died Sunday, July 22, 2012, after a battle with cancer. He was born on July 15, 1952, to Aurther Richard and Iris Louise Kilgore in Star City, Ark. He was a graduate of Lee High in Columbus, Miss., and served in the U.S. Third Army in Neumberg, Germany for two years. In his early years, he managed Jack’s Hamburgers, worked for Sealtest Dairy and Tupelo Coca-Cola. He was also salesman for Allen Henry Company and Hopkinsville Milling Company for more than 15 years. In April 1994, he and his wife, Jeannine, opened Kilgore’s Supermarket on S. Gloster St. in Tupelo, and his son, Jason, joined the business in 2003. James became a Christian early in life and enjoyed serving his Lord in various church and community ministries. He was a faithful member of Harrisburg Baptist Church and Morrison/ Smith Sunday School class. He loved to play golf, go duck hunting, visit the beach and build sand alligators with his grandchildren, ride his motorcycle and visit friends and family who were shut-in or home-bound. He was a loving husband to his wife, a great father to his children and a fun Pappaw to his grandchildren, as well as a great Christian influence and role model in their lives. He was a successful businessman and a wonderful friend to many. A Celebration of Life Service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo with Rev. David Langerfeld and Dr. Forrest Sheffield officiating. Burial will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park & Gardens on Joyner Avenue in Tupelo. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements. Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Jeannine Kilgore; his children, Jason Kilgore (Melissa) of Tupelo, Andrea Kilgore of Tupelo, Jason Wommack (Tammy) of Woodstock, Ill., and Melinda Wommack Conerly of Tupelo; his grandchildren, Peyton and Parker Robertson, Reed Conerly, all of Tupelo, Ashlee Cooper of North Carolina, and Jacob Cooper of Illinois. He is also survived by his sisters Betty McElrath (John) of Columbus, Carolyn Elam (Kelly) of Aberdeen; his brothers, Richard Kilgore (Linda) of Birmingham, Ala., and Ronnie (Linda) Fisher of Little Rock, Ark.; a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews and a multitude of family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a wife, Carol Nanney Kilgore, and his grandparents. Pallbearers will be William “Buddy” Long, Gary Pounders, Johnny Redmond, Gary Jennings, Ron Watkins, Lonnie Bell, Pete Gibson, Jim Hawkins, Charlie Estes, Peyton Robertson, Parker Robertson and Reed Conerly. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Kilgore Supermarket, members of the Morrison/Smith Sunday School Class of Harrisburg Baptist Church, and Scott Conerly, Brandon Conerly, Tim Keith and Robbie Hutcheson. Visitation will be from 4 p.m.– 8 p.m. today at Harrisburg Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harrisburg Baptist Church, 4675 Cliff Gookin Blvd, Tupelo, MS 38801 or Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177 Tupelo, MS 38803. Condolences may be emailed to [email protected] Paid Obituary-Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo