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Submitted: 3/14/11 • Approved: 1/31/20 • Last Updated: 2/3/20 • R487984-G0-S3
James 26 Oct 1930 - 29 Sept 2007
Naomi 1934 - pre-need
Marriage: 1957
James Merle Ashmore son of Harry Merle Ashmore and Viola Ethel (Callahan) Ashmore. James Merle Ashmore born in Gerling, Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. He died in Calico Rock, Izard County, Arkansas. Naomi Arlene (Young) Ashmore.
*Obituary from Roller Funeral Homes Website:
James Merle Ashmore
October 26, 1930 - September 29, 2007
James Merle Ashmore, 76, of Violet Hill died Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Community Medical Center of Izard County in Calico Rock.
He was born October 26, 1930 in Gering (Scotts Bluff), Nebraska, the son of Merle Ashmore and Ethel (Callahan) Ashmore.
He moved to Lynwood, California in 1939 and worked for John Deere and 7Up Bottling Company. James served in the California Army National Guard for six years, and was employed as a machinist at Robertshaw Grayson Controls in Long Beach, California from 1955 to 1992. He was united in marriage to Naoma Arline Young in 1957, and of this marriage, one daughter was born.
James owned a cabin in Lytle Creek, San Bernardino, California and enjoyed riding motorcycles, hiking, and horseback riding. The family moved to a mini-farm in Norco, California in 1966 where they raised horses, cattle, hogs and chickens. James enjoyed endurance trail rides, exploring the river valley in Norco on horseback, poker runs, and racing in gymkhana events with his quarter/appaloosa “Danny.”
James and Naoma moved to Arkansas in 1992, choosing Violet Hill as a retirement home with intentions of raising a few head of cattle, fishing the White River, and enjoying the Ozarks. James was diagnosed with Debilitating Presenile Dementia in the late 1990s and Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. His wife Naoma cared for him in the home until circumstances made it impossible in early 2007.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harry Merle Ashmore; his mother, Viola Ethel Ashmore; and a sister, Shirley Ontjes.
He leaves behind to mourn his passing, his wife of 50 years, Naoma; a daughter, Charlet Estes of Violet Hill; a granddaughter, Patricia (Keller) Perez and husband John, of Jacksonville; and a grandson, James Keller of Violet Hill, and many concerned friends in the neighborhood.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, October 5, 2007 at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Violet Hill, Arkansas. The memorial service will be officiated by Rev. Patrick Hancock.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements are by Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Melbourne. (870) 368-4540.
Obituary located through Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Melbourne, Izard County, Arkansas published Sept 2007.
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 3/14/11 by maxparnell
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Record #: 487984