James Franklin Premer, 88, passed into eternal life on Monday, October 15, 2018 at his home in Liberty, Missouri.

Jim was born on February 27, 1930 in Blythedale, MO, to Lowell and Helen (Pugh) Premer. He graduated from South Harrison (Bethany) High School in 1947. He attended and played basketball at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO.

His first teaching and coaching position was in Jameson, MO. Jim married Carolyn Martha Rainey on August 25, 1951. He then served in the Korean War – serving on the DMZ with his brother Lloyd.

Upon return, he continued to teach and coach and pursue his degree at Northeast Missouri State University. He taught in Troy, IA; Corydon, IA; Spring Valley, IL; and finally Batavia, IL where he and Carolyn raised their 3 children, Jacki, Jimi and J.C.

Jim loved trotline fishing with family, especially his brothers-in-law on the Grand River and later at their place on Lake of the Ozarks! He loved camping with Carolyn and the kids; jigsaw puzzles; country music (especially George Jones); and pitching horseshoes, including a world championship in 1999.

After retirement from teaching, Jim sold Buck Stoves for several years. He and Carolyn then retired as "snowbirds" – living at Aqua Isles Park in Labelle FL in the winter, making lifelong friends from all over the country and summers at Wa-Ka-Ta Beach at Lake of the Ozarks – 75 mile marker! He and Carolyn enjoyed their Mizzou football season tickets even when the Tigers didn't always play well! In 2008, he and Carolyn moved to Liberty, MO where they enjoyed being near cousins and friends and cheering on the William Jewell University basketball team

Jim is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carolyn; his children: Jacki (Mark) Langworthy, Jimi (Todd) Fanning, J.C. (Julie) Premer and his AFS son Jose DelPozo of Quito Ecuador; grandchildren: Cori (Jacob) Higgins, Ruthie (Jon) Hart, Kelsey (Steven) Floyd, Joseph Langworthy, Cameron Floyd, Tomi Fanning, John Langworthy, James Fanning, and Sidney Premer; great-grandchildren: Embry & Todd Higgins; Ford, Lucy and Gideon Hart, and Rory Floyd.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lowell and Helen Premer, brothers Thomas, Lowell (Junior), and Lloyd; in-laws C.F. and Versa Rainey, and brother-in-law Donald Rainey.

Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Friday, October 19 at Chandler Baptist Church, Liberty, MO. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. A private graveside service will be held at Grandview Cemetery, Albany, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Honor Flight Network of Kansas City in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402. Online condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com