Richard Larry James, 73, passed away at the Ness County Hospital on November 28, 2010, after a 9 year illness. Richard was born June 16, 1937 at ElDorado, Kansas to Leona Catherine Renyer and Claude LeMoyne James. Richard, Dick as he was called by friends, grew up in Chase, Kansas. He graduated from Chase High School in 1955. He worked at the Texaco Station in Chase as a service station attendant from 1955 to 1957. In 1958 he graduated from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He began working for the Dodge City Coop in the fall of 1958 as their bookkeeper and later their grain buyer. On June 6 1959, he married Mattie Joyce Ritterhouse and they resided in Dodge City until November 1963. At this time he was hired by the Right Cooperative Assn to be the branch manager at the Ness City location. The family moved to Ness City at this time. Later on he took over the position of Grain Accountant which he held until his retirement in July 2001. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church. Other affiliations over the years were the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Industrial Development Board, and the United Credit Union Supervisory Committee.
Richard is survived by wife, Joyce, of the home, 3 daughters, 2 sons, and their families: Debra & Kevin Frank, Steven & Matthew of Ness City; Michael & Alisa James, Brian & Lauren of Omaha, NE; Larry James of Manhattan, Kansas; Dana Hastings, Anna & Hayley of Manhattan, Kansas; and Sara & Mark Hoepner, Benjamin & Abigail of Shawnee, Kansas. He is also survived by 2 brothers and their families; Donald & Barbara James, Burlington, NC and John & Janie James, Yorba Linda, CA. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, a sister, Judith D'Ordine and a brother, Phillip James.
Funeral Service will be Thursday, 11:00 AM at the Sacred Heart Church, Ness City. Burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Parish Vigil will be Wednesday, 7:00 PM at Fitzgerald Funeral Home. Friends may call Tuesday, Noon till 9pm and Wed 9am - 9pm. Memorial contributions may be given to Cedar Village Long Term Care.