James Russell Roots Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

JAMES RUSSELL ROOTS Funeral services for James Russell Roots will be 2:00 pm Monday, May 23, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church in Alva with the Rev. Dr. Carol Cook-Moore officiating. Interment will follow in the Alva Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. A visitation with the family present will be Saturday, May 21, 2016, from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm at the funeral home. James Russell Roots, son of the late Ralph Wesley and Mildred Esther (Nicholson) Roots was born November 15, 1933, on the farm in Barber County, Kansas, and passed away May 18, 2016, at his home in Alva at the age of 82 years, 6 months, and 3 days. Russell graduated from Hardtner High School in 1952. On August 4, 1954, he was united in marriage to Celia Lorraine Reed at Medicine Lodge, Kansas. They would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary in August. Russell served 2 years in the United States Army. Stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he trained on guided missile systems and electronics and later taught classes. After his discharge from the Army he began working for Halliburton and they lived in several places before settling in Moore. He retired as a field supervisor from Halliburton where he worked for 37 years, retiring in 1991 and he and Celia moved to Alva in 1999. He was an active member of the Alva First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School for many years. He was honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Cherokee Strip Museum. He was also a member of the Alva Golf and County Club and loved to golf with the noon crowd. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with the Do-Little Camping Club. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Roots and Raymond Roots. Russell is survived by his wife, Celia, of Alva; two children, Roger Roots of Durango, Colorado, and Rhonda Barlow and husband, Bill, of Overland Park, Kansas; and identical twin grandsons, Daniel and Andrew Barlow of Overland Park, Kansas; other relatives and many friends. In lieu of flowers , memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Cherokee Strip Museum.

James Russell Roots

November 15, 1933 - May 19, 2016