Jim Finley, 79, of Walnut, passed away at 12:09 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Jim was born Sept. 1, 1943, in Girard, a son of Lyle and Lois (Dougan) Finley.
He attended grade school in Walnut and graduated from Stark High School.
Jim served in the U.S. Army from June 14, 1964, until receiving his honorable discharge on March 16, 1970.
On April 6, 1968, Jim and Carol Jean Potter were united in marriage in Nowata, Oklahoma. Carol preceded him in death on Oct. 27, 1990.
Jim and Carol lived in Ft. Scott before moving to Walnut in 1978.
Jim worked as a mechanic at Stevenson's Auto Clinic in Chanute before retiring in 2004.
Jim enjoyed his family, friends, and Kansas City Chiefs football.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Walnut, the Gard Lee Post No. 292, the American Legion of Walnut, and the Walnut Ruritan.
Jim is survived by one son, James Finley II and his wife Valerie, of rural Girard; daughters, Jodee Lyn Valley and her husband Gary, of Girard, and Heather Jean Short and her husband Kelly, of Girard; his grandchildren Derrick and his wife Caitlyn, Aaron, Carol, Haylee, Damon, Jaada, Adairrius, Eli, James, Jayden, Aniston, Serenia, Gage, Chanse, and Gaven; his great-grandchildren Derx, Duke, Cartyr, Aaron, Zaq, Lincoln, Jax, Kyler, Izaiha, Braylynn, Vivian, and Wrenley; a brother, Robert L. Finley of Walnut.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Jim was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Finley.
Funeral services for Jim Finley will be at 10 a.m., Monday, at Living Faith Church of the Nazarene in rural Girard, with Pastor Mike Johnson officiating. Burial to follow in the Walnut City Cemetery with Military Honors by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans for Foreign Wars in Parsons.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard, where friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday.
Memorials are suggested to Special Olympics, and these may be left at the church or mailed to the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W. St. John St., P.O. Box 258, Girard, Kansas 66743.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com.
