SIKESTON, Mo. -- Jacob Rance "J.R." James Jr., 85, of Sikeston died Monday, Oct. 6, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 24, 1918, at Kennett, Mo., son of Jacob Rance and Ella Mae Davis James Sr. He and Velma Ruth Hinton were married May 16, 1941, at Flat River, Mo.

James was a 1938 graduate of Kewanee High School. He owned J.R. James Real Estate Co. He was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ and had been a deacon and elder.

A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he was a B-29 bomber aerial gunner with the 67th Bomber Squadron of the 44th Bomber Group. He received the Victory Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Sharon Elliott of Sikeston; three brothers, Van James of Crawfordsville, Ind., Mitchell James of Whitehall, Ill., Harold James of Tracy, Calif.; two sisters, Ruth Lively of Dexter, Mo., June Gettings of Anderson, Calif.; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Shady Acres Church, with Pat Hogan and Johnny Hester officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery, with full military rites by Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard.