Jim Gentry, son of Jay J. and Naoma (Leake) Gentry was born Nov. 3, 1923 in Wichita, Ks. and moved to Cabool in 1932 from his boyhood home in Houston, Mo.  He graduated from Cabool High School in 1941 and enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in 1941 well before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  He served in the South Pacific at Guadalcanal and was wounded in action on Tarawa in 1943, but continued to serve on other island landings and New Zealand and was part of the Pacific D day by landing on Saipan and Tinian enduring fierce fighting and was discharged in 1945.  He married Mary Lou Burchett on April 6, 1947 and three children were born.  Ronald H. died in infancy in 1949 and Peggy Lou and Elliott Jay were born in the 1950's.

Jim had earlier graduated from St. Louis College of Mortuary Science and in 1952 he and Mary Lou purchased the Elliott Funeral Home.  In 1953 he was elected Texas County Coroner where he served for 44 years and continued to be an active Democrat until health no longer permitted.  Some have said that Jim was a part of anything that played a role in progress for Cabool and the County.  He always staunchly supported any school bond issue as well as any bond issue for the city and invested in rental houses and places of business in Cabool doing whatever it took to support and make changes for bettering his community.  Among the many community organizations that he was a part of were; Cabool Dev. Corp, City Council, Cabool Jaycees,  and currently the longest standing Kiwanian with 35 years of service, First Baptist Church, Kabul Nursing Home, Cabool Senior Citizens Housing, Missouri Funeral Directors Association, long standing member of Cabool VFW and many more.  Helped start many things including; Kabul Nursing Home, chairing the fund raising effort for the nursing home,  Wedgewood Golf Club,the City Swimming Pool, Gentry Residential Care Facility and Texas County Memorial Hospital.  He loved to sing and was a talented artist and certainly an avid Bulldog fan, as well as the MU Tigers and SMSU Grizzly basketball team, countless youth sports including baseball and city park improvements and area picnic gatherings.

Jim and Mary Lou's remarkable history as funeral directors showed their professionalism, compassion, and caring for hurting families while striving to do every service to perfection lasted for over 50 years.  Family, friends and community were a great source of pride.  Jim was an avid reader of everything including his Bible.  He probably heard more messages from more preachers than anybody else with the exception of Mary Lou and knew more people from all over than we can imagine, but he for sure knew Jesus was his Savior and had made that decision years ago.  It can be said that "He loved Cabool and Cabool loved him."

He loved sports too, including baseball and especially the Cardinals, basketball, football, including raising money for a new stadium lighting system for the field, bowling, golf and NASCAR racing.  He took pride in his appearance including shining his shoes everyday and his association with the coffee bunch and some afternoon pie.  He liked to walk and keep in shape and while health permitted was very faithful to visit his grandson, Jayson on his evening walks.  He would always take the time to hear a good joke or tell one and was well known for his smile and helpfulness.  He was always generous with his money and time to individuals and the community. .

Mary Lou preceded him in death in 2008 and he is survived by daughter, Peggy and husband, Roger Lindsey of Cabool and son, Jay Gentry and wife, Nancy of Cabool; grandson, Jayson Gentry of Cabool, grandson, Scott Lindsey and wife, Mandy of Licking; great grandchildren, Carson and Teagan Lindsey of Licking; sister, Nancy Clary of Alton, Mo., Lou Ann Denny of Basehor, Ks. and a whole host of other relatives and friends.