James S. Cantrell

James Starnes Cantrell, 76, passed away with peace and grace on August 5, 2011, at his home in Surf City, NC, with his wife, Kathy, by his side. His death came after a courageous battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease. Jim was born in Akron, Ohio, on October 23, 1934. His mother, Dorotha Starnes Cantrell survives, and resides in Dallas, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, Manson Cantrell, and his first wife and college sweetheart, Marcia Gravelle Cantrell. Surviving are his wife of twenty-one years, Kathy Elder Cantrell; sons, James M. Pamela of Coralville, Iowa; Conrad Donna of Lawrenceville, GA; Benjamin Joanne of Powell, OH, stepson, James Ellis Dawn of Hampstead, NC; stepdaughter, Rebecca Ellis, New York City; grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Cameron, Schuyler, Hannah, and Elise Cantrell; and Hiatt Ellis. He is also survived by his sister, Lori Cantrell, of Dallas, TX, and his niece, Jordan Nan, also of Dallas, his sister-in-law Susan Lewis Dr. Ronald of Morgantown, WV, and niece, Jenny Phelps James of Oxford, FL. He loved all the family dogs, and leaves behind his four-legged buddy and rescue dog, Abby. Jim was a graduate of Akron Garfield High School and Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served from 1955 to 1957 in Korea. His career was in the finance and banking industry, and he retired in 1998 as CEO from Community Financial Services in Plymouth, MI. He loved to read, and was a regular at the Lake Wylie and Hampstead Public Libraries. He never missed the newspaper crosswords. He enjoyed fishing, and was an avid golfer and a member of River Hills Country Club in Lake Wylie, SC. He enjoyed his Tuesday golf games with Doug Kelley, Tom Tipton, Herb Wahaus, and Randy Watson at River Hills. He had coached soccer when his boys were young. He still loved the game and enjoyed watching and hearing about his grandchildren's soccer matches, and was very proud of all his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments in school and athletics. He played basketball and baseball for Akron Garfield High and Wittenberg University and while in the Army. He was an enthusiastic Ohio State Buckeye, Michigan State Spartan, Winthrop Eagle, and USC Gamecock fan, and was learning to love the Tarheels. He had been a Rotarian for many years, and also served faithfully as a volunteer for the Clover Area Assistance Center in Clover, SC. He was a member of the American Legion. He had been an active member of the River Hills Community Church, Lake Wylie, SC, and was a member of the church family at Faith Harbor United Methodist Church in Surf City, NC. Contributions in Jim's memory may be made to the Jim ""Catfish"" Hunter Chapter of the ALS Association, 120 Penmarc Dr., Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27603, the Faith Harbor United Methodist Church Children's Ministry, 14201 NC Hwy. 50, Surf City, NC 28445, or to the Clover Area Assistance Center, P.O. Box 521, Clover, SC 29710. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Brian Averell of Wilmington Health Associates, Dr. Richard Bedlack of the Duke University Medical Center, to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, the Veterans Administration, and to Pastor Duke Lackey of Faith Harbor United Methodist Church, as well as the many dear friends who have kept Jim in their hearts during his illness. The Cantrell family is being served by Andrews Mortuary, Hampstead NC Chapel, 910 270-3401. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m., August 11, at Faith Harbor United Methodist Church, 14201 NC Hwy. 50, Surf City, NC, followed by a funeral service at the church at 2:00 p.m. Burial with military honors will be at 3:00 p.m. at Sea Lawn Memorial Park, 17750 Hwy. 17 North, Hampstead, NC. The Reverend Lackey will officiate at the services. Jim's life was truly a treasure.