James "Jim" Elmo Warren

James E. "Jim" Warren, aged 85, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on July 2, 2024. Born on August 30, 1938, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Jim spent his early years working on the family cattle ranch in Oklahoma. At the age of 11, his family moved to Longton, Kansas. He spent many years riding horses, checking fences and working cattle on the ranch. The day a family with 5 girls moved onto the ranch across the road, he was there to help Judy, his future wife, round up her horses. He always said he was drawn to her because of her horsemanship. But later admitted to first dating her older sister when their father set the minimum dating age at 14. Jim graduated first in his class of 22 students from Longton High School. After graduation, he moved to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma State University. Jim and Judy maintained a close relationship and Jim was always home on the weekends to see her and help with the ranch. He went on to receive the prestigious Block and Bridle award his final year on the way to earning a B.S. in Agriculture from Oklahoma State University in 1960.

Jim and Judy were married in 1961 and were together for 63 years. Early in their marriage they continued to own land and cattle in Kansas. They travelled back many weekends to help work on the ranch. They had two children. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family at the lake, hunting with his bird dogs, and over 30 years of annual fishing trips with Judy to Northern Manitoba Canada. He received a Canada Master Angler Certificate for netting a record catch.

Jim's spent his early career selling meat for the Morrell and Eckrich companies. When Missouri started a state lottery, Jim became a sales representative for Southwest Missouri. He sold ticket #1 and continued his tenure with the Missouri Lottery, retiring in 2010. He valued his relationships with coworkers and his many customers through the years. He decided to retire when computers were set to take the place of a personal visit and a handshake.

Jim was also a stalwart member of the Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma (Service to Mankind) Club for over 50 years. He spent many years helping his friends with Thursday night bingo and the annual Chili Cookoff. He was "Sertoman of the Year" in 1996. In 2013, he was recognized with the Bill Stalnaker Award for his support of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield. That year, the Sertoma Unit, a BGCS branch was built inside the newly opened Sherwood Elementary School. Jim was always "proud to be a Sertoman".

In his later years, Jim was awarded the Older Worker Award for Missouri Region 8. He served as a Silver Haired Legislator. In this position he is championing issues important to older Missourians by introducing new bills and lobbying for change during an annual trip to the capital.

Jim fought hard to overcome illness in the last years of his life.

Jim Warren lived a life marked by love, laughter, and loyalty. His sense of humor, his ability to engage in conversation with anyone, and his unwavering principles made him a source of dependability and strength. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered as a loving husband, father, and friend.

Jim is survived by his wife, Judith "Judy" O'Dell Warren, his son James Curtis Warren, his daughter Julie Ann Warren and his grandchildren Rachel, Caleb and Lydia Warren. Jim was predeceased by his parents Elmo Allen Warren and Velma Witt Warren and brother Lynn Warren and is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Kay and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Jim will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church on Friday, July 19th at 10 am. This will be followed by a reception at the church. Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home is overseeing the arrangements.

There will be a private burial with family at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to the Girls and Boys Club of Springfield.