James Rhodes

James K. "Jim" Rhodes, 85, of Jackson passed away Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 29, 1937, in St. Louis to James B. and Verna V. Hines Rhodes. He and Ruth M. Linhorst were married Aug. 19, 1961, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Imperial, Missouri. The Rhodes family later moved to Jackson.

Jim's love of music began in elementary school. Under the direction and encouragement of Leroy Mason at Jackson High School, Jim began playing the piano, organ, oboe and other woodwind instruments at the meetings of local civic organizations. In 1955, he graduated from JHS and was off to Southeast Missouri State University.

During his study of music at SEMO, it happened that Leroy Mason joined the university staff, and under Mason's leadership, the Southeast Marching Indians became the Golden Eagles. Jim served as the president of the band and wrote the Golden Eagles' first half-time show. He graduated from SEMO in 1959, majoring in music and fine arts. He then embarked on an extensive career in the music and film industries.

Some of his favorite jobs included playing the piano and organ for the "Breakfast Show" on KFVS12 in Cape Girardeau; working in recording and producing companies in Springfield, Missouri, and later Tulsa, Oklahoma; helping establish the first fully professional recording studio in Branson, Missouri; serving 15 years as a voting member of the Grammy Awards board; assisting with the production and orchestration of more than 2,100 original music pieces for film and television; and serving as church organist for the congregations of Centenary United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church, both in Cape Girardeau, and First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

His career provided opportunities to assist in the performances of artists such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre, John Denver, Pat Boone, Roy Clark, Jim Staford, Moe Bandy, KISS, Ted Nugent and Pat Boone. An accomplishment of which Jim was most proud was receiving an award for his original composition in composing the music and engineering the sound for "Tulsa: Building a World Around You", an advertising campaign promoting Tulsa as an enjoyable city to live in and visit.

Jim often wrote encouraging letters to prison inmates, and he was passionate about caring for homeless and hungry people and animals. He modeled his Christian witness according to Matthew 25:40, "... in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." His collection of rescued dogs and cats included MoMo, Tater, Big Abe, Molly, Mitsy the capturer of snakes and Rocky the Raccoon.

To cherish his memory, Jim leaves his wife of 62 years, Ruth Rhodes of Jackson; family friend and caregiver, Russ Whitlock of Jackson; sister, Marilyn ("Doc") Horsley; brother, Mark (Linda) Rhodes; nieces, Diana (Michael) Bailey and Markie (Aaron) Bott; nephew, Mitchell Regenhardt; great-nephew, Grant Bailey (Brienna Cochran); great-great-niece, Eleanor Bailey; and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer will conduct the funeral at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the funeral home, followed by a brief committal at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions to Feed My Starving Children, 401 93rd Ave. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Jim's obituary article at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.