THOMAS "T.M." JAMES

Thomas M. "T.M." James, age 82, of rural Arcadia, died at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. James was born January 29, 1925 in Arcadia, the son of Thomas M. and Rosa E. Simpson James. He was a retired heavy equipment operator who was a lifelong resident of rural Arcadia. He was raised in the Cato-Arcadia area and graduated from Arcadia High School. He married Georgie Wood on November 24, 1964, in Girard. Mrs. James survives of the home. Mr. James was a veteran of WW II serving in the U.S. Army. T.M. was a charter member of the National Rifle Association, the Arcadia V.F.W., the Lon Helm Post No. 182 American Legion at Arma, and a member of the Operator Engineer Local No. 101 at Kansas City. Additional survivors include a son, Mike Fowler and his wife Julie of Lavaca, Arkansas; a daughter, Georganne Senecaut and her husband Rick of Lenexa; two grandchildren, George Fowler of Lavaca, Arkansas and T.M. Senecaut of Lawrence; three great-grandchildren, Kirk Fowler, Kiley Fowler, and Sydney Fowler, all of Lavaca, Arkansas; one brother, Dr. Lester James, Wichita; a niece, Patty Sink, Wichita; and a nephew, Steve James, Wichita.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, February 16, 2007, at the Bedene Funeral Home at Arma with the Rev. Verl Strong officiating. Joe Bournonville will give the eulogy. Burial will be at the National Cemetery in Fort Scott. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Bedene Chapel in Arma. The Olson-Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 V.F.W. of Fort Scott will conduct graveside flag folding services. Suggested memorials to the Mirza Shrine Transportation Fund. Donations may be sent to or left at the Bedene Funeral Home, P.O. Box 621, Arma, KS 66712.