James Duke Eskew

He moved to Bakersfield, California with his Mother and younger brother, Jack, when he was 5 years old. He attended Standard School and Bakersfield High School. In 1952 he married Mary Lou Blakemore. He was drafted into the Army in 1953 serving two years in Korea in the Signal Corps, 7th Infantry Division, earning an Honorable Discharge.

He is the father of three daughters, Cyndi, Sybil, Mary and son Duke. Jim worked in the oil fields his whole career retiring from Pride Oil Offshore Drilling in Santa Barbara in 1995.

He was baptized in 1982 in Bakersfield and was a faithful servant of his Lord. He moved to Louisiana in 1999 and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesville, Louisiana. He most recently resided in the California Veterans home in Fresno.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jack, uncle, Johnny Smith, great-granddaughter, Lily Doyle, grandson Blake Bertram, son-in-law Jim Pearce. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Cyndi Eskew, Sybil Pearce, Duke Eskew (Jackie), Mary Baker (Ralph), aunt, Dorothy Smith, many cousins , 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the National Cemetery on 6 December at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the All in All, All The Time/ At what level are you willing to participate? aiatt.org

Arrangements under the direction of Mish Funeral Home, Bakersfield, CA.