James Henry Paxton

James Henry Paxton age 88 years old of Humeston, IA, passed away on April 14, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa with his family by his side.

James was born on January 28, 1936 to Rev. Clayton and Holly (McCreery) Paxton in Ollie, IA. He grew up and attended school with his three siblings, Dean, Frances and Arloene.

On March 24, 1956, James married the love of his life, Evalene Koons at the Norwood Evangelical Brethren Church. To this union three sons were born, James David, Donald Dean and Allen Eugene.

James worked different places through out his life mostly doing maintenance jobs. He worked and retired from Simpson college with 26 years. James worked hard all his life and his motto that he taught his sons and he always lived by was “Take pride in what you do with whatever you do.” He loved spending time with his family, they were number one in his life. He made sure that he made memories for each one.

James and Evalene were always joined at the hip but when retired, they traveled everywhere. He and Evalene loved Genealogy. James would drive to different cemeteries to find their family history. He loved reading, he could and did read a book in one day mostly westerns Louis L’ Amour. Evalene would go to the library check his westerns out bring them home hoping he had not read them yet. It was hard to find one that he had not read so they started putting his initials in them. But still he would read same books several times. They love to travel everywhere through mountains, loved nature and being outdoors. He was an excellent traveler, he would remember everything he seen on different roads he traveled when telling his family about his and Evalene adventures.

James and Evalene bought a piece a land in Derby Iowa where they planted their garden, around the garden they would plant flowers. They would make sure their piece of land was beautiful for the everyone to enjoy. He always tried to keep busy in his yard and garden.

He is survived by his children, James (April) of Des Moines, Iowa, Donald (Denise) of Carlisle, Iowa, his grandchildren, Kenny (Lexi) Paxton, Tony Paxton, Morgan (Grace) Paxton, Kasey Paxton-Hayes, Shae (Colby) Lynch and several great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, his sister, Arloene Shy of Mount Pleasant.

James is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Clayton and Holly Paxton, his wife, Evalene, his son, Allen Paxton, his brother, Dean Paxton, his sister, Frances Nichols, his in-laws.

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