JAMES CLINTON HARLEY

James Clinton Harley, 78, of Thornfield, MO passed away peacefully on April 23, 2017 with his family by his side at Select Specialty Hospital in Springfield, MO, after complications from surgery and a stroke.
He was born July 15, 1938 to Ben and Jewel Harley in Nottinghill, MO.

James attended Gainesville High School then joined the Army, where he met his wife, Rebe Mitchell, while stationed in Fort Carson, CO. They married December 20, 1958. They had two sons, Curtis and Robert Harley; three grandsons; one granddaughter; two great grandsons and one great granddaughter.

James Clinton retired from Hutchens Industries in Mansfield on July 15, 2000 after 23 years. As a retirement gift, his co workers gave him a Marten guitar. He loved that guitar and played it and sang at jam sessions around the community where he made many good friends. He enjoyed blue grass music and visiting with all his many friends which included school mates, neighbors, co workers, relatives and almost everybody who knew him. He also liked working on old cars. James Clinton was a long time Christian and attended Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Gladys Henry and husband Carl of Seymour; his sister Thelma Platt and husband Jerry of Springfield and his sister Carol Gullett and husband Don of Parsons, KS.
He is survived by his wife Rebe of the home in Nottinghill, MO; his two sons, Curtis Harley of Springfield, MO and Robert Harley of Nixa, MO; his grandson Cody Harley of Mtn. Grove, MO; grandson Chaz Harley of Rogersville; his granddaughter Ashley Leake and husband Chris of Springfield; great grandsons Andrew and Evan; and great granddaughter Addison; his brother Gary Harley of Forsyth, MO; his sister Charlene Myers and husband Clifford of Rogersville, MO; sister June Moon and husband Wayne of Arkansas; sister Helen Brown and husband James of Arkansas; sister Deloris Garrett of Kansas City, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church in Gainesville, MO with Dale Roberts and Jamie Bilyeu officiating. Burial will follow in the Lilly Ridge Cemetery. A visitation will be held Friday evening, April 28th from 5-7 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel, Gainesville, MO. A memorial fund to help with funeral expenses has been set up at Century Bank of the Ozarks, PO Box 68, Gainesville, MO 65655, or can be left at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.