James Edker Rickman -age 90. He was born on February 4,1931 in Crossett, Arkansas and passed away on Monday, July 5,2021 at the Quail Creek Nursing home. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary: son, Tim (Carol) Rickman of Cape Coral, Florida, daughters; Cindy (Jamie)Ott of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Melinda (Jim) Hestand of Harrisonville, Missouri, and Renee (Jim) Morrison of Nixa, Missouri. Along with his children he is survived by grandchildren- Amanda (Blake) McGinnis, Andrew (Elise) Rickman, Aaron (Sarah) Rickman, Jeremy (Whitney) Ott, Nathan (Anna) Ott, Michael Ott, Amy Cadwell, Nicholas (Amanda) Hestand, Elizabeth (Tony) DiLillo, Katryna (Charles) Wilhelm, Hannah Phillips and Nataleigh Phillips, Rebecca (Kale) Gray, Kim (Artimeo)Rodriguez, John Morrison. He also has 11 great grandchildren: Elias and Korbyn McGinnis, Emmitt and McKenna Rickman, Jayden and Isabell Rickman, Chole and Gracie Mae Ott, Asher and Ellie DiLillo, and baby girl Wilhelm.

Mr. Rickman was preceded in death by his father Robert and mother Josephine (Maxwell) Rickman. His siblings that have passed on prior to his death include Lucille Watt, Polly Hill, JT Rickman, Minnie Clark, Nina Josey, Lorene Byrd, and Pat Rickman. The surviving brother is Lexie Rickman of Crossett, Arkansas and  a host of nieces and nephews.

James married Mary Ford in 1957 and graduated from Southwestern Assembly of God College in Waxahachie, Texas in 1959. He was ordained as an Assembly of God minister in November of 1956. He pastored in Chillicothe, Ohio; Delta, Ohio; Bethel, Ohio and Whiting Indiana. He pioneered a new church in Dyer, Indiana which grew and relocated to Munster, Indiana.

Mr. Rickman retired from Inland Steel, Indiana Harbor in 1993 after approximately 24 years of service.

James was an avid lover of gardening, growing flowers and fishing. The visitation will be at Greenlawn East Funeral Home on Sunday, July 11 from 2-4 pm. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 12,2021 at Nixa First Assembly of God at 9:00 am. Burial will be at the Springfield Veteran’s Cemetery with military honors at 11:00, Springfield, Missouri.