James H. Shaddy

Dr. James H. Shaddy, age 75, a resident of The Baptist Home, Ozark Mo, after losing his battle with cancer, was promoted from this earth February 20, 2014, to join his Lord and Savior in Heaven. Jim was raised on a farm near Grovespring, MO. Following graduation from U.S. Grant High School, Oklahoma City, OK, he began college at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK. Years of education followed at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, and Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, where he finished his PhD degree. In 1969, he accepted a faculty position at Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. He was a member of the faculty there as full Professor of Entomoglogy-Ecology-Biology until retirement in December 2003. During his tenure at Truman State, he attended academic and professional society conferences held on most of the major continents. He also published many research papers and served in many campus capacities. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was a very active member of the Kirksville community. He held membership in the Rotary Club, Missouri Academy of Science and other community concerns. He was involved in many of the ministries of the First Baptist Church. Following retirement he volunteered for The Voice of the Martyrs (nondenominational Christian ministry to persecuted Christians around the world;) Wycliff Bible Translators, and the Springfield Nature Center of the Missouri Department of Conservation. He loved flying and maintained his pilot's license. He took every opportunity to fish, hunt and play golf. He spent unselfish hours fixing friend's and neighbor's computers. Jim was a gifted musician, singing in choirs, quartets and often as soloist. He was a member of South Haven Baptist Church, Springfield, MO, where he taught Sunday School and sang in the senior adult choir, Saints Alive. Jim will be remembered by all who knew him as a humble, kind and gentle man who was well respected. He was preceded in death by his father, Wilson Shaddy. Surviving are his wife of nearly 48 years, Nancy, Ozark, MO; his mother, Deloris Shaddy, Grovespring, MO; sister, Jane Shaddy-Wiborg and her husband, Lloyd, who reside in Mill Valley, CA. A "Celebration of Life Tribute" will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Home, P.O. Box 1040, Ozark, MO 65721, designated for the LifeCare Center in memory of James Shaddy.