Obituary: James Eugene Livesay

James Eugene Livesay, age 91, of Oak Ridge, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 21.

Jim was born January 10, 1924, in Frankfort, West Virginia, to Lock and Mary Livesay. He was the youngest of eight children.

He enlisted in the United States Army with the 249th Engineer Battalion. Serving in the European Theater, Jim landed on Utah Beach in August 1944. He was wounded with shrapnel in one battle. After recovering from his wounds, Jim re-engaged with his unit and was shot three times during the Battle of the Bulge. After recovering at Walter Reed Hospital, he was honorably discharged. He received a Purple Heart, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.

Jim met Betty Ruth Samuels in Ronceverte, West Virginia, while he worked as a farm manager and Betty was in nursing school. They eloped on February 8, 1947, and drove to Kentucky to get married.

Jim and Betty moved to Oak Ridge in 1960. He worked with his brother at Modern Recapping and Tire Sales for several years and then worked for and retired from Y-12 in 1986. Jim and Betty were married 64 years before her passing in 2011.

Surviving children include J. E. and Catherine Livesay of Rogersville, Kim and Robin Livesay of Midland, MI, and Todd and Kristin Livesay of Oak Ridge; grandchildren, Kim, Jr. and wife Erica, Wade and wife Kendra, James and fiancée, Amber Williams, Laura, Mary, John, and Sam; and great-granddaughter Rylee. Jim has one surviving sister, Edith Taylor and husband Tommy of Oak Ridge, and special friends, Sam Bingham, Stephen Gooch, and Lori Jones, all of Oak Ridge.

The family received friends on Saturday, January 24, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral began at 12:30 p.m. with Pastors Tom Job and Steve Gooch officiating. A graveside service will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, where military honors will be provided by the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard.

The family asks that any memorials be made in Jim’s memory to Christ Community Church, 100 Ogden Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.