James Harold “Jim” Sibley
James Harold “Jim” Sibley
September 7, 2013
James Harold “Jim” Sibley, 87, Knoxville, Tenn., formerly of Russellville, passed away in his sleep at Beverly Park Place on Sept. 7, 2013.
He was born on June 23, 1926, in Red Bay to Neal and Ada Sibley. His family moved to Russellville to start Sibley Oil Company, which still operates as the oldest Chevron franchise in the United States. He graduated from Russellville High School and was the last surviving member of the 1943 football team.
He joined the Army Air Corp and served as a rear tail gunner on B29’s in World War II. He returned to Alabama and graduated from his beloved Auburn University and was a proud fraternity member of Sigma Pi Epsilon (SPE).
He began working in sales for International Minerals and Chemical Corporation and became a plant manager in Clarksville, Tenn., Greeneville, Tenn., and Spartanburg, S.C. In 1973, he moved to Knoxville to manage Bill Mullins Tobacco Warehouses and Construction Company.
He eventually became President/Owner of Truck Sales and Service, a Volvo Truck dealership until his retirement in 1993. He thoroughly enjoyed following Auburn football, cooking barbeque, and bird hunting. He was married to Dorothy Underwood Sibley on Oct. 31, 1951 and had two sons.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Sibley; son, William “Bill” Sibley; parents, Neal and Ada Sibley; and brothers, Dr. Jack Sibley and David Sibley.
He is survived by his son, Neal Sibley, of Knoxville, Tenn.; sister, Mary Ann Haverest of Ft. Worth, Texas; sister-in-law, Betty Sibley of Russellville; and many cousins, nieces, nephews; and two very special people whom he and Dot loved as their own children, Linda Hughes and Steve Mays of Knoxville, Tenn.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Doug Hembree and the many caregivers over the past year during his illness.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, at Spry Memorial Chapel, Russellville with Dr. Gene Balding officiating. Burial was in Knights of Pythias Cemetery, Russellville.
