Peacefully in his home on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 11:40 p.m., James Harry Akers passed away with his loving wife by his side. He was born in Stratford, Texas on Thursday, February 10, 1938 in a railroad section house during the peak of the dust bowl days.

As a young teenager, James enjoyed plowing fields for his Uncle Saky and delighted in the chocolate milkshakes his Uncle would bring for his reward. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1957 and soon joined the National Guard and Army Reserves. In 1960 James started working for the United States Postal Service where he dedicated 33 years of his life. James and his wife "Theresia" met in 1963 and married in 1966 at First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas. James and Theresia had their first-born daughter "Angela Elaine" in 1969 and four years later in 1973 had their second daughter "Lucinda Marie". He was a big fan of sports and pushed his daughters and grandchildren to work hard and don't give up. James was patient and understanding with everything he came across until his favorite teams were losing. This brought the fire out in James that could only make those who knew him laugh. After retiring from the post office, James started driving an 18-wheeler hauling propane across the country until he was in a bad wreck that nearly took his life. A few years passed and James and Theresia moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas where James mowed lawns and enjoyed the country life where they could see Bald Eagles on the daily and picked wild blackberries. A few years later, James and Theresia followed their children to Missouri where he stayed until his passing. Here he spent his time going to ball games, watching his favorite movies, serving as an Usher for Hopedale Baptist Church, helping and loving his family dearly and enjoying making others laugh. James was a devout Christian who studied his Bible and went to church until he was physically unable. He was a delightful and happy person that blessed so many people.

James was preceded in death by his mother Kathryn Golden Sims.

He is survived by his wife Theresia Akers, two daughters Angela Randall (husband Robert) and Lucinda Akers, one brother Reggie Gamblin, eight grandchildren Chance Randall, Austin Holtzclaw, Ashlyne Vlietstra, Hunter Randall, Tanner Randall, Addisson Holtzclaw, Autumn Hamilton, Amy Minnick and 10 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 12-1 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2024 at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO 65804 with funeral services to follow at 1 p.m. For relatives, there will be a lunch to follow at the Calvary Baptist Church. Online condolences can be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com

Thank you to everyone for showing James and his family your support at this time of grief.

To quote James Harry Akers, "Just keep on rolling".