Jim Black
December 11, 1934 — April 10, 2023
James Alvin “Jim” Black, of Eureka, died on Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Eureka Nursing Center in Eureka, at the age of 88.
He was born on December 11, 1934, on a farm south of Neal, the son of Otis Lorain and Thelma Violet (Roberts) Black. He lived on the farm with his grandparents until the age of 12 when he moved to Eureka with his mother and husband, Dr. Earl W. Fitch. He graduated from local schools. In October of 1962, James was united in marriage to Caryln Ann Frickey in Sydney, Nebraska. To this union, one daughter was born. This marriage later ended in divorce.
Jim worked a variety of jobs in his life. He drove a dairy truck for the Eureka cheese factory, operated several filling stations in Emporia and Tulsa, operated an Emporia trucking company, and worked in the oil fields. In his later years he bought several cars and was a very good mechanic. He retired to Eureka in 1990. In January of 2005, James was united in marriage to Viola Mae (Blevins) Drake in Neal. She preceded him in death in 2010.
James is survived by a daughter, Christine Kramer of Ashland, Nebraska, a half-brother, Elbert Fitch of Fort Worth, Texas; stepson, Richard Drake of Eureka; four grandchildren: Reggie, Jessie, Jalen, and Walker; and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Viola; and two stepchildren, Ernest Eugene Drake, and Susan Ann Wells.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, April 17, 2023, at Toronto Cemetery, in Toronto with Pastor Jerry Clark officiating. Koup Family Funeral Home is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
He was born on December 11, 1934, on a farm south of Neal, the son of Otis Lorain and Thelma Violet (Roberts) Black. He lived on the farm with his grandparents until the age of 12 when he moved to Eureka with his mother and husband, Dr. Earl W. Fitch. He graduated from local schools. In October of 1962, James was united in marriage to Caryln Ann Frickey in Sydney, Nebraska. To this union, one daughter was born. This marriage later ended in divorce.
Jim worked a variety of jobs in his life. He drove a dairy truck for the Eureka cheese factory, operated several filling stations in Emporia and Tulsa, operated an Emporia trucking company, and worked in the oil fields. In his later years he bought several cars and was a very good mechanic. He retired to Eureka in 1990. In January of 2005, James was united in marriage to Viola Mae (Blevins) Drake in Neal. She preceded him in death in 2010.
James is survived by a daughter, Christine Kramer of Ashland, Nebraska, a half-brother, Elbert Fitch of Fort Worth, Texas; stepson, Richard Drake of Eureka; four grandchildren: Reggie, Jessie, Jalen, and Walker; and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Viola; and two stepchildren, Ernest Eugene Drake, and Susan Ann Wells.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, April 17, 2023, at Toronto Cemetery, in Toronto with Pastor Jerry Clark officiating. Koup Family Funeral Home is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
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