James Lemons

Bennington - James Burton Lemons--aka--Old Pro or as he was best known--Jim--was born April 1st 1926 in Bristol Tennessee. He was the youngest of two sons. He grew up in Arlington Virginia and was well-known by the employees at the Naval Annex where his mother and father worked. Here he explored with his brother Whatley the creeks and forests and small town offerings of a time and place long gone. He developed a lifelong sense of adventure and curiosity that was one of his signature qualities.

Dad enlisted in the Navy soon after he turned 18 and served in World War 2 as a tail gunner on a PBY stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Airbase in Washington State. His squadron was assigned to submarine patrol from northern California up to Southern Alaska He received an honorable discharge in 1947.

Jim was a hardworking man. When his wife left him with 4 boys age 9 and younger in the late 1950s he was working at an entry level civil service job for the government. Not a wage to pay a live-in housekeeper as well as hold together a family of 4 boys. He didn’t despair. He came home from a 9-5 job--took off his hat and suit coat--and played catch or other games with his boys until it was time for dinner. Then he put on greasy overalls and went to work at a gas station 3 nights a week to make enough money to raise his family. The other two nights a week he took night classes at Ben Franklin College where he earned a B.A. in system design accounting. He was a single father in the 50s--who--through a combination of love, faith and hard work brought his family out of poverty and gave each of his children the opportunities he never had.

Jim remarried in the early 1960s to Martha Morton and they had a beautiful daughter--Rebecca--and settled into a near 60 year marriage in a new house surrounded by flower gardens planted by Martha--this is truly an American success story--a bootstrap story of what determination and courage and faith can accomplish.

Jim loved so many things and that curiosity he developed as a child never left him. He was a world class amateur golfer with at one time a handicap of 2--he adored the game and the companionship of friends or his sons or his wife or complete strangers out on the course with a hot dog and a beer on the 19th hole. He loved throwing horseshoes and was winner of many state and national senior tournaments--going through his things we found over 30 first place ribbons for his skill at throwing “shoes.” He loved cribbage--would play for hours with his sons or friends and was very good at it but for Dad it was also a chance to swap stories and philosophies and the game centered on an ongoing conversation and no one knew where it would lead--it was in all these instances the people as much if not more than the activity that mattered.

But of all the things he loved nothing gave him the sense of peace and satisfied his craving for the unknown than driving--pulling a big trailer behind his Suburban down a four-lane toward some new adventure with the world slipping by.

Jim was raised as a Christian by Christian parents. His faith was the foundation he built over 99 years.. He loved his God and prayed for guidance and strength every day. He was also a third generation Mason and the tenets of charity and right living and contributing to those with less was integrated into his daily practice of being a better man than the day before.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-laws--Gary and Nöle and Bobby and Vettie and one daughter and son-in-law-- Becky and Michael. Two sons--Roger and Kenny died before him. He also leaves behind on the Lemons’ side of the family 4 granddaughters--Candice, Paige, Brittany and Madison as well as 6 great-grandchildren--Elle, James, Lucas, Leo, Ethan and Kylie.

On the Morton side of the family there is his beloved sister-in-law Jo Morton and her son Jeff who stood with him through the difficult later days of his transition as well a large extended family of Mortons that Dad loved dearly.as well

He lived more than 99 years and now he is at peace with his Lord. He generosity--his humor--and his wisdom will be missed--he was and always will be loved by all who knew him. We’ll never forget you Jim Lemons.

Visitation Tuesday 10 - 11 AM at church. Funeral Service 11:00 AM Tuesday (7/22/25) at Northwest Hills Church 9334 Fort St. Omaha, NE. Interment Hillcrest Memorial Park at Omaha, NE

In lieu of flowers memorial to Alzheimer’s Association or Northwest Hills Church.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000 www.RoederMortuary.com