Funeral services for Jimmy Ray (Chopper) Wilkins, 85, Meriden, will be 10 am, Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, burial will follow at Clinton Cemetery. A visitation will be from 6-7 pm, Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
Jimmy Ray Wilkins passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at his home in Meriden. He was eighty-five years old.
Born April 7, 1937, to George and Rena (McIntyre) Wilkins in Sardis, Oklahoma, Jim was the sixth child in a large family.
He was employed by Kansas Power and Light, later Westar, for twenty-five years as a tree trimmer. He also served as the fire chief for the Sarcoxie township fire department for fifteen years. Later, he operated his own tree care business for over twenty years. His co-workers and friends called him Chopper because he was an artist with a chainsaw.
Jim loved his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He was always willing to put on a glove to play catch or shoot baskets on the goal in the yard. He taught all his children how to ride a bike and years later how to drive a car. He also taught them how to hunt, work on their cars, cut and stack firewood, take care of their families, and to always be willing to help others in their time of need even if we had less than they did.
Jim never failed to make people laugh. He had a special level of orneriness that made people enjoy being around him. He enjoyed seeing the people he loved happy and enjoying their lives.
Jim was married multiple times and then reunited with Barbara (Hummelgaard) Blatt in 2017.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, George and Rena; four sisters, Ada (Marion), Nona (Vernon), Lorene (Travis), and Jewell (Billy); four brothers, George Leon (Verdie), Robert Dale, VJ, and Harold (Glenda), a son, Larry (Tonya) Casteel, and a daughter, Linda Casteel. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, a brother, Jerry (Lila); three sons, Jeff Dover, Jimmy (Lori), and Randy (Kristi) and four daughters, Robin Ulrich, Tammy, Brenda (Terry) DeCarlo, and Bernice (Michael) Stogner. He has seventeen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jefferson County Visiting Nurses Association, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Grandpa you will be missed.love you bunches
I will miss my Dad but Mom is with you every minute.she truly loved you.love ya Dad
Jimmy was when he was with KPL went out of his way to make certain folks had power. In his private tree trimming the same followed. He was one heck of a climber and strong , even in his “late” years.
My parents thought highly of him as well as I for work he did for us. He always had a smile when we would run into each other.
David Holroyd
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Holroyd(deceased)
Jimmy, so sorry on losing your dad. We’ll be thinking of you.
Sorry for your loss,only new jim for 1o yrs but really enjoyed his laughter and kidding around when jeff and I would go visit.he will be missed.
Sending sincere condolences to the family.
Sending prayers and hugs to Jeff and Brenda didn’t know the rest of family but Sending prayers to the whole family ??❤.
My prayers are with the family during this time of sorrow. May the peace of God cover you, while His strength sustains you.