James Allison "Jim" Espey

James Allison Espey, age 101, of Maryville, MO, passed away at his family home on November 20, 2024. Jim was born on December 30, 1922 to Ivan Allison and Helen Kate (Powell) Espey. A lifelong farmer of Nodaway County, Jim spent his entire life on the same family acres and in the same family home where he was born, southwest of Maryville.

Jim attended Scudder Rural School and graduated from Maryville High School in 1940, where he served as senior class president. His love of farming and livestock led to his membership in the Future Farmers of America where he achieved many awards and served as chapter president. 

Jim enjoyed showing the hogs and cattle he had raised and was an exhibitor for many years at the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City. In 1934, the Missouri Shorthorn Breeders Association awarded Jim the Best Missouri Shorthorn Calf, at the St. Joseph Calf Show.

Following high school, Jim enrolled at the University of Missouri, pursuing a degree in Agriculture. At MU, he was a member of the Farm House Fraternity. When World War II started, Jim entered the United States Army and received training as a Combat Medic. His unit attached to General Patton’s Third Army at the Battle of the Bulge and continued with Patton’s forces through Belgium, France, and Germany, until the war’s end, participating in the Gusen Camp liberation. He returned to the family farm following his service.

Jim enjoyed his family’s gatherings and the trips they took together. He was a great source of fun for his nieces and nephews and was always interested in their lives. While the other adults were gathered in conversation, Jim could be found playing games with his nieces and nephews. 

Jim enjoyed collecting farm equipment, large and small, and especially enjoyed the hunt for these treasures with his brothers, Joe and Dick. His collection included 19 antique tractors and hundreds of hay hooks. He could expertly handle bales of hay with two hay hooks.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ivan Richard Espey and Joseph Eugene Espey; one sister, Jeanne Kathryn (Espey) Jones; two brothers-in-law, David Manford Fisher, and Kenneth B. Jones; one sister-in-law, Lena (Cross) Espey; one nephew, Benjamin Frank Espey; and one niece, Susan Genene (Jones) Hunt.

He is survived by his sister, Sarah Virginia (Espey) Fisher; one sister-in-law, Joann (Owens) Espey; many nieces and nephews, and friend, Mary V. Christensen.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville, Missouri. The burial, with full military rites, will be in the Miriam Cemetery, also of Maryville. 

The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service on Sunday at the Bram Funeral Home. 

Due to Jim’s love of Christmas and children, memorial contributions may be made to Toys for Tots of Nodaway County.