James Nelson Carnes, 86, of Rogersville, Missouri passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025, in his home with his loving family by his side. Jim, as he was fondly known as, was born August 24, 1938, in St. Louis, Oklahoma, the son of Theodore and Johnnie Marie Carnes. On June 27, 1958, Jim was united in marriage to Ivonne Gilmore they shared 64 years together before Ivonne passed away on November 6, 2022.
Jim’s life was a testament to resilience, hard work, and unwavering faith. He lost both parents from tuberculosis by age 6 and was placed in an orphanage until going to live with his uncle. Jim joined the United States Air Force, he was stationed at Fordland, Missouri, where he met the love of his life Ivonne. Jim would sneak off base to see her and from this love, a family began. He worked at Dayco for 26 years, until they locked the gates and laid off many. To make ends meet, he became a janitor at Drury College. He took classes around his hours and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in education at the age of 55 years old. Jim later went on to teach adaptive P.E. at Rogersville and served as a custodian and bus driver until retirement. After retirement, he and Ivonne traveled across the country with friends and even became winter Texans in the Weslaco community. He was saved at Oney Baptist church later he and Ivonne found a home at Elm Grove Church in Rogersville. He was a quiet man, reserved, slow to anger, and unceasingly devoted to the Lord and his family. Please keep the Carnes family in your prayers as they grieve the loss of a cornerstone of their family.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ivonne; two sons John David and Jimmy Earl; his biological brother Billy Dale Carnes; his cousins who became siblings, Bobby Long, Irene Long and Erlene Long Truitt.
He is survived by his daughter Cathy Eakins and husband Troy; nine grandchildren Andrea and Josh Rupp, Jessica and Travis Hudson, Brad and Emily Carnes, Casey and Anthony Crisp, Katie and Katlin Humble, Kelsie and Dallas Melton, Josh Eakins, Carrie Eakins, and Kylie Eakins; 11 great-grandchildren; his sister-in-law Genevia Jackson and husband Mike; other caring relatives, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Jim will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Elm Grove Church, 111 Elm Grove Road, Rogersville, Missouri. Burial will follow in Linden Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, January 10, 2025, in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark, Missouri. Donations are requested to Elm Grove Methodist Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.barnesfamilyfunerals.com.
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Jennifer Ailor says
January 7, 2025 at 1:48 pmI met Jim and Ivonne at Elm Grove Church the summer of 2006. Jim was the quiet one but could be as warm and engaging as Ivonne. They welcomed me and always made me feel part of the Elm Grove family. For a man who lost so much in childhood, outlived two sons and his beloved Ivonne and was fired after 26 years of employment, he could have been a bitter man and lost soul. Instead, he was a man of God, faithful to the end. I am so grateful for Jim’s friendship and for the example he set of living a Christian life, full of grace in hardship and joy in family and friends.