Obituary of James Davis Keesling
James “Jim” Davis Keesling, age 90, of Doniphan, MO, died peacefully April 25, 2017 of advanced age and complications due to Alzheimer’s.
Jim was born August 1, 1926 in Niangua, MO to Bill and Molly Keesling. He was the third of five children. He grew up working with his father on the family farm. Jim attended schools in the Conway area and graduated from Conway High School. After graduation in 1944, he left the farm and joined the Navy and served in WWII in the South Pacific aboard the battleship USS Massachusetts. Along with his shipmates, he was awarded seven stars for participation in major Pacific campaigns. Discharged from the Navy in 1946, he returned to the farm.
He was married September 28, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rader MO to Alice Blankenship of Conway MO.
A year later, Jim rejoined the Navy and spent the next 18 years, accompanied by Alice and their three children, serving at numerous Naval Communications installations, to include: Washington DC, Wahiawa Hawaii, Adak Alaska, Northwest Virginia, Guam, Kamiseya Japan, and San Diego California. Following retirement from the Navy in 1965, Jim went to work for the Naval Security Group as a civilian. In this capacity, he served at NSG Skaggs Island, NSG Fort Meade, and ended his career at NTC San Diego. Jim retired with Alice to Doniphan MO in 1983. In retirement, he enjoyed carpentry-woodworking, fishing the Current River, visits with long time Navy friends and extensive travel throughout the US with Alice. A lifelong Christian, Jim attended Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches and was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Doniphan. He was active as both an elder and as congregational president. His Confirmation verse, which he shares with Alice, is: Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10b) Late in life, Jim suffered both the loss of his first son Franklin James to cancer and then his own slow, tragic, bewildering fall into Alzheimer’s.
He is survived by his oldest sister Norma Lee Cook of Marshfield MO, his youngest sister Marilyn Priola of Caseyville IL, his youngest son William R. Keesling of Republic MO, his daughter Paula Jo and husband Darrell Hill of Hollister MO, 4 grandchildren: Leslie, Alyson, Colleen, and Amanda, and 6 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Hailey, Gage, Isabel, Autumn, and John. He was preceded in death by Alice, his wife of 70 years (December 15, 2016), his older sister Nola Jean Thorndike (December 31, 2008), his younger brother William B. Keesling (July 27, 2009), and his first son Franklin James Keesling (August 31, 2011).
Jim loved the Lord Jesus and the Holy Christian Church. He believed that he was a sinner saved by God’s mercy and grace. He was a strong and loving husband and father who never failed to provide for his family. He was a true patriot and was proud beyond words to have served in the United States Navy. We will suffer the loss of our Dad beyond measure.
