James E. Kuykendall Jr.

Services for James Kuykendall will be with McPeters Funeral Home at 2:00 pm on Tuesday January 18, 2022 with burial to follow in Henry Cemetery. Visitation from 12 noon until service time at 2:00 pm.

James passed from this life on January 14, 2022 at 11:00 pm at Magnolia Regional Health Center.

He spent the last few day surrounded by love. Being with his family was exactly what he wanted.

He was born to James Everett Kuykendall and Carita on March 18, 1976 and welcomed home by his big sister Kim. What a happy day for this family as they dreamed of having a healthy boy to bring home to his sister.

Keeping them all on their toes was his job from the beginning. James was never still very long and constantly surprised his momma with his stunts throughout his young days (and older days too). Kim’s earliest memory of a stunt was young James using a toy plastic hammer and breaking their front window while she waited on the school bus one morning. His last stunt for his sister was about a year ago when he called to tell her he left her daughter a surprise on her garage. James had brought his niece a pet rooster to keep. These fun stunts he enjoyed in his youth and adulthood and are too many to tell but his family and friends could go on and on with stories that make you laugh.

He attended grade school and high school at Alcorn Central School and graduated in 1994. He loved his school friends and they made many memories together throughout the years. Always the one that could start the fun, he loved making others laugh. It was a natural thing for him to entertain his friends and his younger brother Chad during the teenage years. He was a loyal friend, if he considered you a friend, you could call him any hour of the day or night and he was there for you. If there was one word to describe James “Cookie” Kuykendall, it would be loyal.

His work included Gardner’s Super-Market, Briggs Tobacco, CMC/ITT, and Tecumseh. His last job was as a mechanic, working with his dad at Selmer Classic Cars.

Through the years, there were lots of outdoor activities that were a joy in his life. He loved coon-hunting, fishing, camping, or riding in the BOTTOM, especially “muddin” with his family and friends. He usually had a dog by his side as he loved dogs from an early age. Two probably stood out as his favorites: his first Blue heeler “Skip” and his last Blue heeler “Blu”. Skip or Blu never left his side, you could see either of them in the truck seat or in back of truck riding with him. If they weren’t in the truck with James, they would wait patiently by the door if James needed to run into a store. A whistle from James was all either needed to hear to hop back in the truck to ride. When either of these loyal companions were alive they were inseparable with James.

He and Tullisha added the two highlights of his life when their son and daughter, James Everett Kuykendall III (Trey) and Makayla were born. Trey was his devoted son, that never wanted his daddy to be alone. Makayla was her daddy’s delight as his night owl buddy that loved to ride around with him.

He is survived by his two children Trey and Makayla, their mother Tullisha, and by his loving mother, Carita Kuykendall. He also leaves behind his sister Kim Marlar (Chad) and brother Chad Kuykendall and step-mother Sheila Kuykendall, “Nana-Sheila” to his children. He was blessed with a nephew Triston Marlar and a niece Ashton Marlar. Triston will have the fond memory of James teaching him to drive his great grandfather’s old red stick shift blazer one summer, and Ashton will remember the fun uncle who taught her cards and brought her Rebel the rooster. James also leaves behind his extended family with aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins that have a lifetime of memories and will miss him so very much. His bonus family (Cookie’s family/friends) that loved him and will also miss him very much.

James was baptized at an early age and attended West Corinth Church of Christ. Anyone that knew him would never deny that he was always loyal to his loved ones. He loved attention and affection from his family. Family gatherings and good food was another special thing he enjoyed in his life. Many of his good times were usually accompanied by grilling out with his friends or family or running to his mother’s house for good home cooking. This truly was one of his favorite things for sure.

James was a simple man who lived a simple life but he did love amazing music. Friends and family would usually get a text/message with a song attached he would want them to listen to. From Hank Sr., Waylon, Lynyrd Skynyrd to Etta James and Guns & Roses to outlaw country, James had an ear for good music.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Everett Kuykendall (Kirk); his paternal grandparents, James Cletus and Devada Kuykendall; and his maternal grandparents, Arno and Opal Nixon.

Pallbearers are Trey Kuykendall, Chad Kuykendall, Jay Childers, James Childers, Collin Walker, and Aaron Rorie. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim Bob Hammock, Cevin Walker and Brian Dickey.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcpetersfuneraldirectors.com for the Kuykendall family.