James Huffman

Myers

James Huffman Myers of Bella Vista, Arkansas, died November 10, 2026, at Circle of Life Hospice Home in Bentonville, Arkansas, at 84 years of age. James was born April 23, 1942, at Blessing Hospital, Quincy, Illinois, the son of C. Q. and Margurette Zoa Huffman Myers of Knox City, Missouri.

He will be buried with a graveside service next to his parents in the city cemetery at Knox City, Missouri.

James grew up in Knox City, Missouri, where he attended elementary school and graduated from high school where he played snare drum and bass drum in the band and was in the marching band. His father ran a trucking company in Edina, Missouri, and the family owned the locker plant in Knox City, managed by his mother, and where he often helped out, mostly working the counter selling ice cream, snacks, and pop. The family attended the Methodist Church in Knox City, and he went to Sunday school there.

In 1965, he graduated from Kirksville State Teachers College [now Truman State University], Kirksville, Missouri, with a BS Degree in Education. For seven years he taught general business, bookkeeping, typing, and shorthand at Lost Nation [lowa] High School. He then moved to Davenport, lowa, and became an auditor at Bituminous Insurance Company, Rock Island, Illinois, where he stayed for 32 years, retiring in 2005.

During college and his first years of teaching, James spent seven summers working at Wall Drug, Wall, South Dakota, a famous tourist stop near the South Dakota Badlands National Park.

In 2001, James met and partnered with Bro. William G. Myers, O.S.L.; he always felt proud he had met a minister to be his "significant other" and "love of his life." Following their retirements, they moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where they found a church home and family at St. Theodore's Episcopal Church. They especially loved traveling and had two major trips to Egypt and Ireland. James loved trains, and they did historic train excursions in Arkansas, Colorado, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. For over ten years, they attended annual reunions of Bill's high school class in many places across the United States.

They spent several vacations in James' beloved Colorado Springs, Colorado where he had often stayed in summertime with his grandmother, who worked at Colorado College, during his childhood. Wisconsin, Illinois, and the Black Hills of South Dakota were favorite destinations, and they enjoyed spending time at Bill's retirement home in Faulkton, South Dakota.

From 2003 forward, James dealt with several medical issues including several strokes, abdominal cancer, lung cancer, heart problems, Hepatitis, a broken leg, broken shoulder and complications, and Leukemia. He was treated and cared for by University Hospitals and Clinics at lowa City, lowa, and Mercy Medical Center, Rogers, Arkansas. His last year, he was a resident at the rehab and nursing facility, Highlands of Bella Vista, where he felt very loved and cared for and had dear friends among the residents. His last care was at Circle of Life in Bentonville where staff loved him like a brother and cared for Bill as well.

James is survived by his life partner Bill of Bella Vista; his niece Farrell Sue Church of Palmyra, Missouri, grandniece Meghan Rae [Lance Ray] Karr and their children Harper Rae, Jackson Ray, and Birdie Rae Karr of Hannibal, Missouri; grandnephew Jason Ray [Jena Jo Plenge] Church and their family, Bryan Lee Plenge, Jordan Marie Plenge, Eric Morgan, Bree Rae, Dee Rae, Chanz Ray, and Mary Rae Church of Kahoka, Missouri; several cousins, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Bob Binkley, and sister, Eleanor Myers Binkley; and nephews-in-law Gary Ray Church and Don Pierce.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 21, 2026 at St. Theodore’s Episcopal Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

Graveside service will be at 12:00 Noon, Monday, November 23, 2026 at Knox City Cemetery in Knox, Missouri.

At James' designation, memorial gifts will be given to St. Theodore's Episcopal Church, the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [ASPCA], the Humane Society of the United States, and the Nature Conservancy.