James Ray Chambers' Obituary
On October 10, 1937, Russell C. and Iroline Blevins Chambers became the proud parents of a son, James Ray Chambers. He was followed closely by a sister, Sheryl Lee and later another sister, Janet Sue, joined the family. Jim spent his early years growing up on the Chambers Farm located along Pony Farm Road east of Leon. He attended elementary school in a one room school house a mile east of his home and then graduated with the Class of 1956 from the Leon High School.
Knowing that his parents could not afford to send both he and his sister Sheryl to college at the same time, he left for Wyoming the day after graduating from high school. He lived with his Uncle Russell and Aunt Alma in Casper and they helped him gain employment in the booming oil field industry with the W.C. Norris Mfg. Co. He worked as a salesman in the oil fields and traveled throughout the western states selling supplies to the many working oil rigs. To this day, he credits his boss, Leroy Mitchell, with much of his success in life. He often said that if he had only kept all of the silver dollars he got as change while out west, he would have been a rich man today.
While in Casper, he met and then married Carolyn Joines in 1958. During the marriage, Jim was promoted by the oil company and transferred to Williston, North Dakota. He continued working in the oil fields often traveling into Canada.
Sons James Kent and Jeffrey William blessed this marriage.
In 1967, after the oil company closed, Jim and his family returned to make their home in Leon, Iowa. Jim was self-employed as a custom corn sheller, became a farm fertilizer/insecticide applicator, worked as a grain elevator manager, and became an owner/operator trucker. His first truck was an old, red Mack that hauled many bushels of both corn across the Midwest and beans to the Mississippi River. It wasn't long before he chose the big Kenworth as his favorite truck to drive.
On July 4, 1974, Jim married Roberta under a huge oak tree in the Kingdom of Calloway, Missouri. He welcomed Roberta's two children, Token and Dustria to his family.
Jim and Roberta have made their home in Corydon, Iowa ever since. They joyously welcomed a son, Jared Russell Chambers in 1977.
With a crew of wonderful drivers which included his oldest son Kent, Jim continued as owner of a trucking company for several years, running multiple Kenworth's, Peterbilt's and other trucks throughout the United States. Jim's love of Kenworth trucks led him to ordering a new, two-tone blue W-900A back in 1977. This truck was his pride and joy and it showed, as not everyone was allowed to drive it. Even Kent wasn't allowed to drive it until the "new" was well worn off of it!
Then in the early 1980's, a small project in their back yard led to his eventual ownership of dozers, backhoes and other heavy equipment. Today, you can drive around southern Iowa and see the many projects he worked on throughout the years - from farm ponds and terraces to large school and hospital expansions, new home sites along with water & sewer main projects. He "retired" in 2005 but continued to boss Jared and his crew around for several more years.
Jim was extremely proud of and loved his family more than you'll ever know. But, it was extremely hard for him to show how much he cared and he often left his kids doubting.
Jim and Roberta's family includes:
Jared and his wife, Pam, have one son, Jett Russell, of Corydon.
Kent and his wife Barb live in Lowell, Arkansas and have four children, Amy, Tony, Angela, and Tiffany. Amy, from Lowell, Arkansas has Christopher, Kenli, Lexie, and Brendon. Tony resides in Lowell, Arkansas. Angela and her husband Chad, from York, Nebraska, have three children, Eden, Jake, and Eli. Tiffany is married to Cameron and they live in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jeff and his wife BJ have one child, Alyssa. She has two children Christopher and Tru. They all reside in Bakersfield, California
Token and his wife Tammie, have one child, Trish. They reside on a farm near Louisburg, Kansas.
Dusti and her husband Daren of Corydon have four children, Teela, Trevor, Winston, and Raquel. Teela and her husband Tyler live in Melcher and have four children, Elizabeth, Memphis, Luxie, and Waylon. Trevor and his wife Maddison of Corydon have two children, Trice & Moxen. Winston is serving in the United States Air Force, based in Joint Andrews Base at Fort Washington, Maryland. Dr. Raquel lives in Des Moines.
Jim's sister, Janet, resides in Leon, Iowa.
Jim and Roberta also have their beloved bulldog, Nala.
When this big family of over 40 got together, it was quite an event. Jim's private grin lasted for weeks..
Every time you hear Frank Sinatra sing "He did it his way", remember Jim.
On October 17, 2023, Jim left his earthly home in his two-tone blue Kenworth loaded with his D-7 Cat and his bulldog, Oliver, riding shotgun with him. Jesus was looking for a 'cat skinner' to get some dirt work done.
Private burial services will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Corydon Fire Department
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