Jimmie Ellsworth, Jr., 85, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at his home. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, MO 64138. A visitation will be from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM prior to the service. Interment will be in Green Lawn Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jimmie was born December 21st, 1936 in the farming community of Batchelor, Louisiana. After a long and debilitating illness, Jimmie died peacefully at home in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jimmie's parents were Jimmie and Dorothea Ellsworth. His siblings are Katherine Alpough, Andrea Harrison, Rita Ellsworth, Carletta Boykin, Gene Ellsworth and the late Suzie Alpough.
As a child, Jimmie was a hard worker and highly motivated. He was expected to perform many chores on the 60 acre farm their family owned. Frequently he had to miss school because crops had to be planted and harvested. Jimmie's mother, Doreatha made sure he attended school often.
Jimmie was taught the basic skills; reading and math in a one room schoolhouse, by one teacher, who taught multiple ages and grades.
The work habits that were instilled living on a farm and the math and reading skills he learned in that one room school-house, were the tools he used to reach his goals. For example, when he came to Kansas City in the 50's, he enrolled in U.S. Trade School, where he learned to become an auto mechanic. When his friends were playing baseball in Louisiana, Jim was learning to become an auto mechanic in Kansas City. Jimmie knew what he wanted and was willing to work for it.
From 1960 to 1962, Jimmie served in the U.S. Army where he earned an honorable discharge. After completing his military training as a sharpshooter, Jimmie remained in Los Angeles where he was employed as an auto mechanic at a large car dealership.
After a brief marriage and the birth of his first son, Maurice, Jimmie continued to work as an auto mechanic.
In July 1966, Jimmie returned to Kansas City for a visit. It was then that he met his wife, Marie of 55 years. Out of this union, four children were born; Aaron, Kimberly, Jim and Preston.
To insure more financial security and benefits for his growing family, Jimmie left his much-loved trade as an auto mechanic and worked on the assembly line at G.M. Fisher Body and Delco battery plant in Olathe, KS. Very early in his career at Delco, his employer discovered Jimmie had many God given talents. Jimmie was selected to attend Finley Engineering School, where he perfected many skills that would benefit GM and his family. His advancements made private school and college education possible for all his children.
One might ask how much time did Jimmie spend with his family? Jimmie found time to attend their baseball and basketball games, take them fishing, go bowling and even take them on many vacations.
If you would ask Jimmie what he enjoyed doing most with his children he would say working on their cars. Each learned how to drive and how to maintain their car in good working condition.
Yes, this is a celebration of Jimmie's life but he would want me to say that this is a celebration of his family because Jimmie believed his family was his life.
Service Information:
Visits: 47
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors