James Elliott
Age - 96
November 29, 2023
"James Melvin (Jim) Elliott passed away Friday morning, November 24, 2023, at his home of 61 years near Excelsior, MO, a mile from the home place where he was born on November 10, 1927, to Alvin Louis Elliott and Melva Laura (Moser) Elliott. Jim was educated in country schools until his freshman year when he attended California High School while his parents tended an incapacitated uncle's farm. He completed the remaining years of his secondary education at Versailles High School, where he graduated in 1945. The following year, he joined the United States Navy and traveled to San Diego, CA, for boot camp. With World War II hostilities still underway, his time as a new Midwestern recruit in a big west coast city brought both conflicting emotions and new experiences. Jim would say that meeting Ruth Minetta Parks--a San Diego native co-ed--was the best thing to come of his naval experience. He courted her during his deployment to China, where he mercifully saw no action, participating instead in decommissioning military installations. Upon his return to the States in 1948, James and Minetta became engaged and married that June. The couple returned to the Versailles area where they planned to farm land near his home place. First, he enrolled at the University of Missouri to study agriculture. Jim and Minetta spent his 1948-1950 school years living in a small trailer in Columbia where the first of six children was born. Following a semester living and working on the university's experimental farm at Weldon Springs, MO, the young family moved back to begin farm life in the Versailles area. Post-war 1951, the Elliott family dove into the process of building a home and a farm enterprise, carrying on his father's farming tradition, as their young family doubled. Minetta's parents visited from CA and helped build the family's original house. Jim joined the Missouri Seed Improvement Association to begin putting the innovative farming techniques he learned at MU and from the association into practice. He also began an enduring relationship with the Missouri Extension Service. As the family and the farm became established, Jim started a seed business; El-Par Seeds, Inc. , continues to this day under leadership of Jim's first two sons, Richard and Roger, in whom he inspired a passion for farming and stewardship of the land. Even though tending livestock was a lot of work, Jim enjoyed a special relationship with his cattle. Perpetually mindful of their needs, he talked to them individually and treated them as friends to the point that they recognized and responded to his voice. Even though selling them off was inevitable, he was probably secretly sad to see each one go. Jim valued his family, his customers, the seeds he propagated and sold, the land he was privileged to steward, and the community where he spent the remainder of his life. An active member of Bethel Church, he served as church chairman, deacon, youth sponsor, Sunday school teacher and other leadership roles. For many years, Jim taped Bethel services and created cassette copies, wrapping each in a printed copy of the program, for distribution to the congregation. In addition, he was an active participant in Bethel Brotherhood and Providence community center activities. Jim served the larger Versailles community as a Morgan County R-II School Board member for several years. Jim is survived by his six children: Nancy (Michael) Forrest, Chris (Carol Brownlee) Elliott, Roger (Lisa) Elliott, Richard (Doris) Elliott, Jim (Patty) Elliott, and Tony (Kari) Elliott; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a sister, Beth Dennis. Preceding Jim in death are his brothers John Richard, Arthur Dean, and Athel Gene Elliott; parents Alvin and Melva Elliott; daughter Lorie June Elliott; brother-in-law Tike Dennis; and wife Ruth Minetta Elliott. A private internment service took place at the Bethel Fellowship Church Cemetery. A Visitation is planned from 5:00-7:30 p. m. , Friday, December 15th, at Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home, 207 N Monroe St, Versailles, MO. A Celebration of Jim's life is planned for 10:30 a. m. , Saturday, December 16th, at Bethel Fellowship Church, 37830 Bethel Church Rd, Fortuna, MO. In lieu of plants or flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Jim to the Compassus (Hospice) Living Foundation, https://compassuslivingfoundation. org/give/. Mail donations to: Compassus Living Foundation, 503 N. Euclid Avenue, Suite 9E, Bay City, MI 48706. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles. "Show more
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