Wayne L. James

Wayne L. James, Sr., 68, of Roeland Park, Kansas, passed away July 1, 2012, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center due complications from COPD.

Wayne was born January 31, 1944, in Parsons, Kansas, the son of Ira Eugene James, Sr. and Martha Stone James. Wayne drove a semi tractor trailer over the road for many years. He was employed with Ashland Chemical Company for several years until he suffered a back injury.

Wayne enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, camping, and telling stories from his past. He enjoyed motorcycles and antique cars. He loved spending his last years caring for, and playing with his toy poodle "Missy" and having conversations by phone with his brother. Wayne was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his wife, Connie, of the home; one daughter, Lisa (Vern) Valentine of Garnett, Kansas; sons, Wayne Lee James, Jr. "Dusty" (Jerri) of Mound City, Kansas, Kenny James (Rae Ann) of Independence, Missouri, and Shannon James (Kati) of Kechi, Kansas; 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren all of which he was very proud of and always brought a smile to his face; brother Ira E. James, Jr. of Lake Chapparel, near Mound City, Kansas; and two step-sons, Brian Knowles of Atchison, Kansas and Shawn (Sarah) Knowles of Overland Park, Kansas. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Ira Eugene James, Sr., and Martha Stone James Lough, by a brother Larry Wade James, a grandson Kenneth Eugene James II, and his cousin/"brother", Tom Stone.

A visitation will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at the Amos Family Funeral Home & Crematory.

A visitation will also be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Johnson Chapel, Chanute, Kansas.

Funeral service will be 1:00 pm, Friday, July 6, 2012, also at the Johnson Chapel with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery, Chanute, Kansas.

Memorial contributions in memory of Wayne may be made to the International COPD Coalition.