James "Jim" Harold Barksdale

James “Jim” Harold Barksdale of Steelville, Missouri passed away Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Missouri University Hospital in Columbia at the age of 91 years, 3 months and 26 days.

Jim was born on February 12, 1935 in Deering, MO, to Edgar and Inez (nee Raburn) Barksdale, and grew up in Caruthersville, MO. As a teenager, he moved with his parents to Higginsville, MO, where he graduated from Higginsville High School in 1953. After graduation, he moved to Steelville for his career in the shoe business, working at Cuba Shoe for 14 years. He later was employed with Meramec Industries in Sullivan for over 30 years until retirement in 1998.

Upon moving to the area, he attended the Steelville First Baptist Church where he met the love of his life, Georgia Beth Hopkins. They were married in 1954 at the First Baptist Church where they both continued to sing in the choir for over sixty years. Jim was a long-time deacon and continued to stay active at First Baptist until his passing. 

Throughout the years Jim and Georgia Beth were very involved in bowling. He started participating in the Missouri State Senior Games in 2005 when he was 70 and won his first gold medal in the doubles event. In 2025, at age 90, Jim won three gold and one silver medal in the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Jim was a self-taught carver, carving his first shorebird in 1955. Over the years, Jim sold over 7,000 hand-carved and hand-painted shorebirds and songbirds. Jim and Georgia Beth attended many art and craft shows through the years and later Jim became a part of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s, ‘Best of Missouri Market’, where he displayed his talent with the best artisans in the state.

He loved people and enjoyed talking to anyone he met. He began bird watching over a decade ago, loved walking to keep active, kept a journal of his daily bird sightings, and most of all loved his time with his family on vacations or just at home with them.

Jim will be dearly missed by his two daughters, Kim Barksdale of Merriam, KS, Jan (Tom) Weisel of Steelville, MO and one son, Kevin (Terry) Barksdale of Springfield, MO, grandchildren, Sarah Weisel (Steve Reiniger), Steven (Brianna) Barksdale and Adam Barksdale; 4 great-grandchildren, Norah, Marlow, Crosby, and Archer Barksdale; sister-in-law, June Hopkins of Fredericktown, MO; other relatives; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Inez Barksdale; his wife, Georgia Beth of 64 years; parents-in-law, Willis and Celeste Hopkins; his brother, Wayne (Carol) Barksdale; one sister, Glenda Chrysler; and brother-in-law, Larry Hopkins.

The Family received friends from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 27, 2026 with Rev. Rick Haggett and Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of “What A Day That Will Be”, “Find Us Faithful” and “When We Get To Heaven” were sung by families and friends led by Bryan Taylor with Becky Simpson on piano. Other music of “We Will Meet Again” was sung by Bryan Taylor. Memories were shared by Sarah Weisel, Kevin Barksdale, Adam Barksdale and Bryan Taylor.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Steelville Cemetery, Steelville, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Sarah Weisel, Steve Reiniger, Steven Barksdale, Adam Barksdale, Bryan Taylor and Kevin Smith with honorary bearers, Bill Freeman, Ike Lovin, Floyd Reed and Dennis Sandstrum.

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

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the Gideons Memorial Bible Program, P.O. Box 302, Sullivan, MO 63080 or First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 126, Steelville, MO  65565.

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