James "Jim" Merritt Walls of Viburnum, Missouri passed away Friday, November 9, 2012 at his home at the age of 81 years. He was born in Leasburg, Missouri on May 23, 1931 to Samuel Merritt Walls and Noda Elizabeth Pyatt Walls. On February 19, 1956, he was united in marriage to Ada Marie Halbert who survives of the home.

Jim served his country honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1953. During his life he worked for  Delano Oil Co., Sealtest Milk, Brown Shoe Co. and lastly for St. Joe Lead retiring in 1984 after nineteen years.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church at Viburnum and was a Sunday school teacher and deacon. He was a former Cub Scout leader when his sons were young. In his spare time, he enjoyed working with wood and being outdoors watching the birds and squirrels.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of fifty-six years, Ada Walls; children Jim Walls and wife Donna of Viburnum, MO, Larry Walls and wife Sandra of Davisville, MO, Tammy Jones and husband Bobby of Festus, MO and Timothy Allen Walls and wife Connie of Belleville, AR; one sister Agnes Cook of Cuba, MO; one brother Alvin Walls and wife Betty of St. Louis, MO;  sisters-in-law Arnetta Walls of High Point, MO, Ann Fudge of Steelville, MO, Mary Smith of Cuba, MO and Rosalie Koehler and husband Robert of Washington state; brothers-in-law Harold Halbert and wife Vickie and Horace (Jr)  Halbert and wife Chris all of Cuba, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers Jerry and Davy Walls; brothers in-law Darrell Halbert, Leonard Fudge and Charlie Smith; and sister-in-law Lucille Arnold.

The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 12, 2012 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

A funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO  with Rev. Justin Perry and Rev. Ken Martin officiating. Special music of "When He was on the Cross" was sung by Connie Walls accompanied by Carol and Bob Coleman on piano and guitar. Other music of "Daddy's Hands", "Go Rest High" and "On a Cloud" was played.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery. The folding and presenting of the U.S. flag was done by grandchildren, Sgt. Marcus Slade and Sgt. Bradley Slade.

Honored to be casket bearers were Kyle Selle, Scott Selle, Brad Slade, Marc Slade, Jimmy LaChance, Dusty Modde with honorary casket bearers as Rick Walls and Sam Cook.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.