JAMES L. SOURS

James L. Sours, age 84, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. He was born April 7, 1941 in Joplin, Missouri, as a young man he became an ardent fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and often spoke of the Joplin Miners and their young star Mickey Mantle. As a student, he had taken a keen interest in history and became a skilled writer, working as the managing editor for his school newspaper, the Joplin Spyglass. He later served as a deacon and church treasurer at North Joplin Christian Church, where he occasionally preached. Jim had many jobs in his career, including working for banks, trucking companies, restaurants, food service companies and school districts. His varied career reflected an unusual set of gifts that helped him manage multi million dollar budgets and personnel with equal skill, while occasionally filling in as a short order cook. With his many job titles and accomplishments, his most important roles were as son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He was always an encouragement to those he loved, including his life-long best friend and sister, Judy, his wife of 29 years, Sandie, his wife of 31 years, Cindy, his children and his grandchildren. Never short on advice, encouragement or humor, he was always able to find the good in any situation. What people will remember most about him was his faith in God, kindness, selflessness, intelligence, and occasional habit of saying exactly what was on his mind a bit too loudly.
He is survived by his wife ; Sandra (nee Shy) Sours; 4 Children: James (Patti) Sours, Jayne (Gabriel, deceased) Serna, Jeff (Belinda) Sours, and Josh (Kasey) Sours; 4 Stepchildren: George (Tina), Kenneth (Sharon) Elias, Melissa (Robert) Palmer, and Norman (Nella) Elias; 21 Grandchildren; 20 Great-Grandchildren; Siblings: Judy, Linda, Phyllis, and Mike.
James was preceded in death by his 1st wife: Cindy (nee Hays) Sours; Parents: Charles and Vivian (nee McDonald) Sours; and Siblings: Butch, Denny, and Carol.
Family will receive friends at the Misencik Funeral Home, 36363 Detroit Rd, Avon, Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. A Parlor service will be held Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be private.