James Lewis Starkey

James L. Starkey, one of 14 children, was born on September 23, 1939 in Perry County, Alabama to the late Mr. & Mrs. James McCoy Starkey. He confessed to Christ and was baptized at an early age. He served as a chairman of the deacon and trustee board at Christian Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. Shortly after graduating from Wenonah High School in 1960, he moved to Chicago, IL. where he met and married Barbara Jean Harris on January 14, 1967 and from this union was blessed with three children. After 23 years of working for Commonwealth Edison Company, he retired as a Maintenance Foreman and relocated to Henderson, Nevada in 2000. As he settled into retirement, he worked part-time as a school crossing guard for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

James enjoyed working crossword puzzles, building puzzles, taking walks and swimming where he taught all his grandchildren how to swim. Spending family time together with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him great joy.

He leaves to cherish his memories with his loving wife, Barbara J. Starkey; one son, Keith Lewis Starkey (Chantae) Henderson, NV; two daughters, Darlene Denise Jones (Joseph) Las Vegas, NV, and Renee Renise Flowers (Spencer) Las Vegas, NV; six Grandchildren, Angel Jana Bryant (Kendrick) Henderson, NV, Brittany LaShawn Butler (Christopher) Las Vegas, NV, Ashley Renee Finnell, Las Vegas, NV, Jared Jordan Finnell, Las Vegas, NV, Ronell Xavier Maxwell, Henderson, NV, and Courtney Kristen Flowers, Las Vegas, NV; Five Great-Grandchildren, Angel Kinley Bryant, Jace Senord Bryant, Kai Marshall Butler, Emery James Butler and Aria Joy Butler.

For Our Dad:

"I'm Free"

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free. I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took his hand when I heard his call, I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work, to play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way, I've found that peace at the end of the day.

If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things too I will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now. He set me free.

For Our Grandfather/Great-Grandfather:

God saw you getting tired, when a cure was not to be.

So he wrapped his arms around you, and whispered, "Come to me."

A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

For Our Brother:

No farewell words were spoken, No time to say "Good-Bye,"

You were gone before we knew it and only God knows why.

Our hearts still ache in sadness, and secret tears still flow

What it means to lose you, no one will ever know......