Obituary of James Boyd Serles, Sr.

Funeral Services for James Boyd Serles, Sr. of Elsberry, MO will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2016 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Conrad Cheatham, pastor of the ARPresbyterian Church in Elsberry, will officiate with burial in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Serles, Scott Serles, Joe Serles, Kevin Haynes, Scott Ruff and Forrest Collings. Mr. Serles, 72, passed away Thursday morning, March 24, 2016 at St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, MO. Born January 17, 1944 in Saline County, IL, he was son of John Raymond and Vera Louise Cox Serles. Jim was a 1962 graduate of Edwards County High School in Albion, IL. He served his country in the United States Air Force until he was honorably discharged in 1965. He was united in marriage on May 5, 1967 in St. Charles to Harriet Jane Johnson. This union was blessed with two children: Tracy Lynn and James Boyd, Jr. “Jay”. The family lived in St. Charles until moving to the Elsberry area in 1987. Jim worked as an Aircraft Mechanic for Boeing, retiring August 25, 2000. He was a lifelong VFW member and a member of Moose Lodge #2599 in Silex, MO. Jim and Harriet owned J & H Coin and Collectible in Elsberry for four years. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Vera Serles; one brother, John Serles; and his son, Jay Serles, who died June 24, 2015. Survivors include his beloved wife of nearly 49 years, Harriet Serles of Elsberry; one daughter, Tracy Kern of Webster Groves, MO; and two grandchildren: Jacob Scott Hammond and Elijah Robert Kern. Jim also leaves two brothers: Joseph Serles and his wife, Paula, of St. Charles, and Philip Serles and his wife, Jan, also of St. Charles; one sister-in-law, Joyce Serles of St. Charles; three nephews: Mark Serles, Scott Serles and Joe Serles and his wife, Marcia; one niece, Jennifer Haynes and her husband, Kevin; great niece and nephews: Addison, Wyatt and Jersey Haynes, Will Serles and Joseph Carter Serles; other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until time of the service at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2016 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to The Lincoln County Cupboard in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.