James Myron “Jim” Shows

James Myron “Jim” Shows, Jr., 84, of Eastwood Village, Bostic, died Monday, August 7, 2017 at Fairhaven of Forest City, North Carolina. Jim was the eldest son of James Myron Shows, Sr., and Elizabeth Cooper Shows, born on December 16, 1932. He grew up on a farm outside New Hebron, and after graduating high school Jim continued his studies and graduated from Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and was attending Mississippi Southern in Hattiesburg as an engineering student when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1953. Jim always participated in football and basketball programs in both high school and college. It was during his time stationed at Fort Jackson that he met Evelyn Butler and in 1955 they were married.
His professional working career led him to the insurance industry, where he for many years was a staff manager and later was a long haul truck driver, where he retired. His hobbies, that he enjoyed and shared with his children, were hunting, fishing, gardening, wood carving and oil painting. Jim was a member of Florence Baptist Church, where he enjoyed his Sunday School Class and for many years was director of the Youth Sunday School Department. He had also been a volunteer at the local elementary schools, where he worked with the side by side mentoring program.
He was a charter member of the Optimist Club of Rutherford County and was a trained volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Team. Jim found humor in almost every situation in life and truly loved everyone he met. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ewell Cooper Shows.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Evelyn Butler Shows of the home; two daughters, Lisa Shows Freeman and husband Russell and Lauren Shows Roberson and husband Jimmy; a son, Philip D. Shows and wife Jennifer; six grandchildren, Megan Roberson Brandle, Christy Freeman Houser, Joshua B. Freeman, Baily Shows, Preston Shows and Erin Shows; two great-grandchildren, Reid Houser and Nathaniel Brandle; a brother, Larry Traylor Shows and wife Barbara of New Hebron; a sister-in-law, Johnnie Shows of New Hebron and a number of nieces and nephews whom he loved.
Funeral services were held Friday, August 11, 2017 in the Florence Baptist Church with the Reverend Dr. Bobby Gantt officiating and a eulogy given by his son, Philip. Military honors were accorded on the lawn of the church following the service.
In accordance with his wishes, following the service Jim was cremated. Family and friends attended a brief committal service of his ashes in the Cool Springs Cemetery. The family has respectfully requested that memorials be made to Florence Baptist Church, 201 S. Broadway Street, Forest City, NC 28043 or Hospice of Rutherford County, Post Office Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.