Jimmie Ray "Jim" Bledsoe

Jimmie Ray (Jim) Bledsoe, age 70, of Stickleyville, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at his home. He was born on Tuesday, September 16, 1947 and was a lifelong resident of Stickleyville. Before retiring from Joy Mining Machinery, Jim served in the United States Army for two years and was employed by Birmingham Bolt Factory in Duffield, Virginia. He was an active member of the Stickleyville Fire Department for over 30 years and was of the Baptist Faith. Jim enjoyed working in his garden, feeding the birds and squirrels, and attending car shows in his sunflower yellow Chevelle. He never met a stranger, letting his kind, giving heart shine brightly to everyone he encountered. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rhea and Kate Bledsoe, four brothers; Larry Bledsoe, Murel Bledsoe, Johnnie Bledsoe, and Arnold Bledsoe and two sisters; Betty Lou McElroy and Shirley Gilliam. Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Louella (Parsons) Bledsoe; two sisters-in-law, Lena Bledsoe and Jean Bledsoe and one brother-in-law Eugene McElroy; several nieces and nephews; three special nieces, Eleshia, Ella and Ashleigh Marion; two special nephews, Kevin and Benjamin McElroy, and host of friends and loved ones in the community.

A funeral service will be held at 8:00 PM Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Province Funeral Home in Pennington Gap, VA with Rev. Bob Crider and Greg Rasnic officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM Thursday, until the time of the service. A graveside service will be at 11:00 AM Friday, at the Parsons Cemetery on Middle Wallens Creek in Stickleyville, VA. Military Rites will be conducted by Local VFW Post and the Army National Guard Honors Team. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donation be made to the Stickleyville Fire Department. Memorials and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.provincefuneralhome.com We are located at 42098 E. Morgan Ave. Pennington Gap, VA 24277.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jimmie Ray "Jim" Bledsoe, please visit our floral store.