James Leonard Parkhurst, age 84, of Kinmundy, Illinois passed away at 4:10 a.m. on December 3, 2015 at his home.

Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Pagel Funeral Homes in Edgewood, Illinois with military rites. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pagel Funeral Homes in Edgewood, Illinois. Jeff Brent and Rusty Courson will be officiating. Burial will be at Mason Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Celtic Hospice in Centralia, Illinois or donor's choice.

James was born on November 13, 1931 in Watson, Illinois, the son of Charles Arthur and Iva Belle (Wines) Parkhurst. He married Marie Opal Wines on July 19, 1952; she preceded him in death on January 20, 1985. He later married Mary Sue Kelly on August 30, 1985 in Kinmundy, Illinois.  He was a member of the American Legion and Brown Christian Church in Kinmundy, Illinois. He was a firefighter in the Air Force during the Korean War. He enjoyed farming, gardening, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his friends and family.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Parkhurst of Kinmundy, Illinois; two daughters, Kay Wyckoff (husband Roger) of Effingham, Illinois, Kathy McMahan (husband Robert) of Herrin, Illinois; one daughter-in-law, Roswitha Parkhurst of Effingham, Illinois; two step-daughters, Wynelle Vowell of Massachusetts and Coletta Garner (husband Randy) of Wayne City, Illinois; two step-sons, Donald McRoy (wife Astrid) of Alabama and Robert Pollard (wife Crystal) of Kinmundy, Illinois; one sister, Judi Mae Schmohe (husband Hollis) of Missouri and several grandchildren, several step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Parkhurst; four brothers, Robert, Richard, Donald, and Arthur Parkurst, one sister, Annabelle Fugate and two grandchildren, Deborah (Wyckoff) Carzoo and Joy Marie King in infancy.