James Leon Durham was born September 6, 1922 at Greenwood, Sebastian Co., Arkansas to William Andrew & Lula Elizabeth Russell Durham. March 18, 1946 James married Zelma Rea Devall, both residing in Charleston, Franklin Co., Ar. at that time. June 30, 1942 James registered for the military draft at San Diego, Califoornia. He enlisted in the US Marines. He attained the rank of Sgt. James Leon Durham passed away February 27, 2007 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. His burial was at Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin, Taze3well Co., Illinois. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NORTH PEKIN ~ James "Jim" Durham, 84, of 8420 Phoenix Avenue, Apartment 211, Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away at 10:17 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2007 at his residence. He was formerly of North Pekin. Born September 6, 1922 in Greenwood, Arkansas to William Andrew and Lula (Russell) Durham, he married Zelma Rea Duvall on March 18, 1946 in Barling, Arkansas. She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Linda D. (John) Kommers of Richton Park and Brenda A. Nelson of Pekin; one son, Phillip J. (Kristie Wright) of North Pekin; two grandchildren, Kyle D. Nelson of Pekin and Amanda M. (Ted) Misdom of Lansing and one great-grandson, Christian T. Misdom of Lansing. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Janet L. Durham; one son-in-law, David A. Nelson; one brother and four sisters. Jim was a World War II Marine Corps veteran serving in the Marshall Islands. He attained the rank of Sergeant. A 1941 graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston, Arkansas, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 from Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, Arkansas. He was all state football player in high school. Jim moved to North Pekin from Arkansas in 1951 and was an educator in Creve Coeur School District 76 for 14 years. He also worked as a journeyman machine repairman at Caterpillar, Inc. for 30 years, retiring in 1982. Following retirement, he worked at the Miller Home for Children and at Holiday School, both in Pekin. A sports enthusiast, Jim enjoyed hunting, gardening and small engine repair. He was a former member of Frank N. Nicol Lodge 1170, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Creve Coeur. He and his wife returned to Fort Smith in 1994, where he was a member of The Church of Christ at South 46th Street in Fort Smith. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His funeral will be at noon Saturday, March 3, 2007 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. The Rev. Gary L. Ford will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the funeral Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Miller Home for Children in care of Tazewell County Resource Centers, Inc., 21310 Illinois Route 9, Tremont, IL 61568.