Obituary of James Edward Irby

James Irby “Jim”,67, of Clark passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Boone Hospital in Columbia after a long battle with liver cancer. He was born in Dexter, MO to the late JR Roosevelt Irby and Virginia Smith. In his early life, Jim attended Ozark Bible College. He later graduated from Linn Tech and attended the University of Missouri. He started his career in electronics at Radio Shack. He later owned and operated Jim’s Custom Building and eventually worked as a Construction Foreman for the City of Columbia before he retired. During his retirement, he owned and operated A+ Auto Center in Moberly. Jim’s American Indian heritage was important to him and he was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Moberly. Jim was a man of many talents, interests and hobbies. He had been there, done that, and had a story for all of it! Or a song! He was a talented auto mechanic, carpenter and cook. He enjoyed trail rides, country music, country dancing, camping, hunting and fishing. He loved his horses, cats, dogs, geese, chickens and many other animals that found their way to the farm. Some of his favorite times were traveling, riding horses and giving buggy rides to his grandchildren and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Larry Irby and step-son Will Powers. Jim leaves behind his wife, Patricia of Clark, MO; daughter, Rebeccah Reeves (Tommy) of McKinney, TX; sons, Casey Irby of Grand Junction, CO and Jeremy (Rebeka Pyatt) Irby of Columbia, MO; step-daughters, Erica Powers (Mike Klinginsmith) of Columbia, MO, Nikki Bergendahl (Duff) of Sturgeon, MO, Jessica Powers (Troy Gardner) of Columbia, MO, Hope Stufflebeam (Brad) of Milan, IL; grandchildren, Alexis, Landon, Austin, Ava, Barrett, Benjamin, Nicholas, Lily, Julianna, Jace, Isabelle, Cayden, Gabby and Audrey; sister, Patty Smith of St. Clair, MO; brothers, Gary Irby and Greg Irby both of Overland, MO; half-sister, Nancy Owens of St. John, MO, extended family and close friends. Services celebrating Jim’s life will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moberly, MO. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 23, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home. A rosary will be said at the conclusion on the visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Missouri Chapter of the American Liver Foundation,16 Hampton Village Plaza, Suite 215, St. Louis, MO 63109.