James Roger Stanfill

1932 - 2014

TUPELO – James Roger Stanfill, 81, died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at his home in Tupelo. He was born Nov. 17, 1932, in Ridgely, Tenn., to Fred Lee Stanfill and Alta Autry Stanfill. He grew up in the Ridgely, Tenn., area where he played sports and graduated high school.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War, spending time in Japan, Korea and numerous islands in the Pacific Theater, including the Marshall Islands where he participated in the 1954 A-Bomb and H-Bomb tests. After an honorable discharge from the Navy in March 1955, he worked as a barber with his father in Ridgely, Tenn., then worked as a dispersing clerk for the American Louisiana Pipeline Company in Murray, Ky., for nine years. Upon completion of manager training, he worked for Sears Roebuck & Company, where he spent the next 32 years as manager, district sales manager and assistant district manager in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. He and his wife owned Sears Dealer Stores in Philadelphia and Senatobia, as well as in McMinnville, Tenn. After retirement, he thoroughly enjoyed driving for local car dealerships and Budget, delivering vehicles nationwide.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where he served as chairperson of the Staff Pastor Relations Committee, a member of the Finance Committee, a member of the Administrative Board and a member of the Wesleyan Sunday school class.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and loved his family and church very much. His love of the outdoors included hunting and fishing with children, grandchildren and friends. He looked forward to meeting with his coffee and car driving buddies and attending the weekly Veteran Association meetings.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Martha Sue Stanfill, whom he married Nov. 8, 1953; his two daughtersm Jennifer Warren and Susan Malouf (Mike); two sons, Steve Stanfill (Laura) and Mark Stanfill; eight grandchildren: Derek Warren (Amy), Anna Warren, Morgan Stanfill, Whitney Thompson (Patton), Ann Leighton Malouf, Michael James Malouf III, Chambers Stanfill Malouf and Sara Elizabeth Stanfill; two great-grandchildren, Ayden Smith and Sam Thompson; and his wonderful caregivers, Mary Elzie and Dorothy Parker.
He is proceeded in death by his parents; one brother, Fred Lee Stanfill Jr.; and one sister, Betty Stanfill Dunigan.
Pallbearers are Hoyt Curbow, James Scott, James Wilemon, Robert Cheney, Charlie England, Richard Calloway and Bud Clements. Honorary pallbearers are the Wesleyan Sunday school class.
A celebration of life service with military honors will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with the Rev. Raymond Rooney officiating and Jerry Jordan assisting. Burial will follow at Lee Memorial Park in Verona. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Thursday from noon to service time.
Any memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 2122, Tupelo, MS 38802 or Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.