Obituary of James Irving

Carter-Ricks Funeral Homes Phone 573-898-2181 / Fax 573-898-3148 Newspaper Notice of Death James Harold Irving Funeral services for James Harold Irving, Sr. of Elsberry, MO were held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2006 at Centennial Methodist Church in Elsberry, MO. Rev. Brenda Cockrell, pastor of Centennial Methodist Church and Rev. Marvin Hunter officiated with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry, MO. Serving as pallbearers were Roosevelt Burse, Jessie Hunter, Alan Turner, Milford Steele, Gilbert Riffle and Larry Riffle. Honorary pallbearers were Nathaniel Blair, Keenan Blair, Robert Blair, Samuel Boyd, Allen Hunter, Curtis Hunter, John Hunter, Rick Hunter, Chance Wilson, Roderick McPike, Taft Overton, Edward Watts, Jr., Ian McKinney, Charles Hayes, Timothy Collins and Lloyd Hayes. Mr. Irving, 59, died early Saturday morning, February 18, 2006 in Lincoln County near Troy, MO, the result of an automobile accident. Born November 28, 1946 in Elsberry, MO, he was the son of the late James Richard and Alvina Mae Whiteside Irving. He graduated from Elsberry High School in 1964. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from February 17, 1966 until February 14, 1968. He was united in marriage on January 7, 1984 in Elsberry to Ruby Marie Hunter. He was employed almost 40 years as a laborer at Forrest Keeling Nursery near Elsberry. He was a member of the VFW Post #9062 in Elsberry. He was also a member and served on the Board of Trustees for the Centennial Methodist Church in Elsberry. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Alvina Irving; one son, James Anthony Irving; one sister, Geraldine Blair who died November 25, 1996; one brother-in-law, Charles Hunter who died June 14, 1993; and one son-in-law, Marcos "Michael" Agustin who also died February 18, 2006. Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Ruby Irving of Elsberry; three sons: Derrick Alvin Blair of Jefferson City, MO, Kyle Eric Blair of Elsberry and James Harold "JJ" Irving and his wife, Jamie, of Elsberry; three daughters: Theresa Marie Nunley and her husband, Michael, of Troy, MO, Wanetta Mae Agustin of Elsberry, and Jamie Marie Irving of Wentzville, MO; and twenty-three grandchildren. He also leaves one sister, Aliene Henry and her husband, Jimmy, of Elsberry; one mother-in-law, Mary Hunter Parker of Elsberry; one uncle, Frederick Whiteside of Maryland; two aunts: Euleta Gray of Kansas City, MO, and Imogene Hayes of Springfield, IL; seven brothers-in-law: Richard Lee Hunter and his wife, Tina, Henry LeRoy Hunter, Johnnie Hunter, Curtis D. Hunter, Ezra "Allen" Hunter and his wife, Curtissa, Jesse Louis Hunter and his companion, Sandra and Billy Joe Hunter; three sisters-in-law: Mary Preston, Bonnie Perkins and Phyllis Rose; one godson, Timothy Collins; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2006 at Centennial Methodist Church in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the family of James Harold Irving, Sr. in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.