James Lee Emmons, an incredibly gentle man, father and husband, died last week from that cancer thing gone crazy through his body. A quiet Christian much of his life, his last days were muddled with anger that his crossing took the longest way over.

Never one who wanted to talk about his medal-awarded heroics in the Korean War, he recalled in between radiation flashes how he should not have lived this long anyway because of the stupidity of a cocky 21-year-old who grabbed a booby-trapped landmine that had been set by someone luckily more stupid. He had reconnected with his 23rd infantry regiment and savored the joy of long lives during their annual reunions.

For much of his working life he drove the back roads of Cass County (where he had spent his youth on Harrisonville's Christmas Tree Lane) as an insurance claims adjuster, helping folks rebuild from damage done. At home he built frames, shelves, fences and additions because he was good with his hands and because he endlessly liked making things a little bit different. He inconvenienced himself to help anyone who needed it. And he was to the very end the devoted husband any woman's parents should have ever wanted.

He leaves behind his wife, three children, a grandson, three nieces, a nephew, a sister-in-law, a son-in-law and a stepsister.

Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Harrisonville, Missouri with visitation from 3:00-4:00. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Shepherd's Staff Food Pantry, Harrisonville.