Published: March 27, 2008 09:58 am            

James ‘Jim’ Stephen DeMuth

Funeral services for James “Jim” Stephen DeMuth, age 82, of Sperry, were held Tuesday in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Skiatook. The Rev. Father Khiet “Joe” Nguyen officiated and burial was in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Pallbearers were Larry DeMuth, Bruce DeMuth, Dick DeMuth, Chris DeMuth, Roger DeMuth, Jimmy Coyle, Alan Armbruster and David Goolsby. Honorary pallbearers were Bud (Brother) Beaston, Mike Orcutt and Billy Tracy.

He was born July 23, 1925, in Mineral Point, Wisc., to Stephen and Kathryn (Steil) DeMuth. He died Friday, March 21, 2008

Jim married Joyce Lucile Johnson June 28, 1948.

Jim’s career as a herdsman and ranch manager began at Curtis Cattle Company in Marengo, Ill., and led him to several ranch manager positions throughout Mississippi including Circle M Ranch in Senatobia from 1949-59 and Malone’s Ranch in Meridian from 1959-1962. He served as a vocational livestock specialist for the state of Mississippi from 1963-1970. Jim then managed Ric Car Bar Ranch in Raymond from 1963-1970. Jim was a renowned Polled Hereford cattle judge choosing champions at two National Polled Hereford shows including Houston, Texas, the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky., and many other cattle shows throughout the United States. In 1970, he accepted the position of regional manager of the Black Watch Angus Farms in Oklahoma. Jim started his own herd of Angus cattle in Sperry and has since been known for raising award winning cattle. Jim has been a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for 38 years having served in numerous leadership roles. He especially loved singing the church choir and has been lovingly referred to as “The Speaker of the House.” Jim was an active member of his community. He was a life time member of Knights of Columbus, the Mississippi Cattleman’s Association, National Cattleman’s Association, Country Corner Fire Department, Tri-County Council on Aging, honorary lifetime member of the Sperry FFA and the Mineral Point High School 1943 Alumni Association. He was a well known founding member of Sperry’s Field of Dreams. He was a supporter and member of numerous school, community and state organizations.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joyce; children, Larry and wife, Kathy, of Raymond, Miss., Dick and wife, Debbie, of Senatobia, Miss., Beth and husband, Jimmy Coyle, of Sperry, Karen and husband, Alan Armbruster, of Burlington, Roger and wife, Janis, of Texarkana, Texas, Vonn and husband, David Goolsby, of Sperry, Bruce and wife, Carrie, of Perkins and Chris and wife, Lynn, of Blackwell; 28 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; brother, Dan DeMuth and wife, Marge, of Dodgeville, Wisc.; sisters, Jane Leonard of Hollandale, Wisc., Margaret and Don Howie of Waukesha, Wisc. and Rita and Blake Lawrence of Baraboo, Wisc.; a multitude of nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Kathryn DeMuth; brothers-in-law, Joe Leonard of Hollandale, Wisc., Ronald Johnson of Darlington, Wisc. and Gene Thompson of Darlington, Wisc.ꆱ

        

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