Mr. James Landon “Jim” Barton, 74, a life-long resident of Readyville, Tennessee passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2024. He was born to the late Robert “Crook” and Melba Fuller Barton at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Woodbury, Tennessee on Monday, August 21, 1950.
Now, being born a Barton, there were a few things you could be sure of – 1) he would never meet a stranger his entire life, 2) birds were going to catch his fancy, 3) cattle farming was his heritage, and 4) he was going to know and study his Bible. But being a Barton also meant that Cannon County was his home, and he firmly believed there was no place like it.
Graduating from Woodbury Central High School with the Class of 1969, Jim went into the workforce with a true Barton and Cannon County work ethic. His children joked that he went from peon to eon working at the Whirlpool in La Vergne. He started off as a floor factory worker, moved up to quality control, and made his way all the way up to management. During his time there, he met his future wife, Sheila.
With Sheila, Jim had found a kindred spirit. From growing their faith together at Cornerstone Baptist Church to watching the birds, he knew she’d make a Barton. After getting married, they found many more memories to share from going to the flea market to doing a garden every year. They could even agree on the genre of music for their excursions. Country usually flowed through the radio, but Jim really tuned in when Willie Nelson came on.
Throughout his time, Jim made sure he lived a rich life in family and experiences. He enjoyed being outdoors and fishing. Tassey Rd. became his and several of the Barton family’s little slice of paradise. His love for birds and knowledge of cattle farming was something he and his brothers passed along to their children, nieces, and nephews. But when it came to sports, Jim took a less conventional stance and got in the rink with hockey. He was a big Nashville Predators fan and had his kids convinced he bled yellow, navy blue, and white.
If you really wanted to know what got Jim excited though, you probably could guess he had a dose of Cannon County in his blood. A county rich in history, Jim soaked it in and soaked it up. He was a walking history book on anything from the Mountain Man to the Civil War. If it was anything from the Bible to one generation back in ancestry, he wanted to learn it. And since a great way to learn is being hands on, Jim even became an avid Civil War reenactor.
All of that knowledge affirmed his faith and brought him closer to God and his family. He could find kin anywhere, and he made sure his children knew it. The only place in his life where Jim might have treated people differently was he introduced himself as Jim, but to his close family, he was Jimmy. He lived a life of contentment and gratitude for where God had placed him, and now, he is in a paradise far more grand than his eyes could have dreamed.
In addition to his parents, Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife, Sheila Reeves Barton; step-son, Chris Tate; brother, Jack Barton; and brothers-in-law, Charles “Timmy” Reeves and Scotty Wilson
He is survived by his children, Chris (Carolyn) Barton of Centertown and Lorie (Ron) Polidora of Hubert, North Carolina; step-son, Bobby (Robyn) Tate of Michigan; brother, Ray (Peggy) Barton of Readyville; sister, Cynthia Barton of Madison; brother-in-law, Stanley Reeves; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Barton, Donna (Tom) Savely, and Rhonda (Gary) Arnold; grandchildren, Sgt. Landon Boroday, USMC, Cpl. William Boroday, USMC, Timothy (Renee) Hemby, Mary Tate, Dakota Hemby, and William Hemby; and special adopted niece, Addison Barrett.
Visitation will be held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Thursday, November 7, 2024 from 10 am-2 pm. Funeral services will follow on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 2 pm in the Gentry-Smith Funeral Home chapel. Bro. Al Bugg will officiate. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Vanderbilt Heart or a charity of your choice.
Share memories and condolences at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337 Because every life has a story