Jim was the owner of Leath & Sons, Inc. The company was started with a single dump truck alongside his father in 1957. Once Jim’s children were old enough, there was no doubt that he was going to raise them to know the meaning of hard work and a strong work ethic. The same can be said for his grandchildren. Leath & Sons, Inc. is the epitome of what started as a small-town family owned business. As the company has grown, his employees will often say that they also feel like part of the family. The company has performed thousands of projects in the Kansas City metro area and will continue to serve the community thanks to all the hard work he put into the business.
Jim also took great pride in his family. At family get togethers he’d lean back in his chair and look around in awe of what he had help to create. He was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather. It’s a known fact that no one in Jim’s life escaped his words of wisdom, whether it was sought out or given for free, he was full of great and advice and had no issues telling you how it is. That was one of his many great characteristics. It would often begin with a “Deal Like This Is….” Which if people had catchphrases, this would have been his. Jim was always involved in the lives of his grandchildren and he loved that his great-grandkids referred to him as Happy (“Pappy”).
Jim was a third generation Free Mason and was a 55 year member of the Raytown Lodge #391. He was also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite member and had been for over 50 years.
We know that he was always searching for his next adventure, and Jim has finally found the “motherlode” as he was greeted with open arms by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents James E. Leath, Sr. and Eudell Leath.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, his brother John and wife Patty, his son James III and wife Martha, daughter Debbie, daughter Becky, son Jeff and wife Leigh, son Jesse and wife Chris, as well as 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
