James Reese Alford

James Reese Alford
James Reese Alford, age 69, a Chillicothe resident, passed away Wednesday, October 26th, 2022, at his residence. Jim was born the son of William and Adeline (Reese) Alford on March 17th, 1953, in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was a 1971 graduate of Chillicothe High School and a 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Jim grew up enjoying all sports—basketball, baseball, football, bowling, and especially golf. Jim enjoyed playing at the Chillicothe Country Club at a young age with his father, brother and lifelong friends. He was a six-time Chillicothe Country Club champion golfer along with several other Chillicothe golf honors such as Chillicothe Invitational Open champion golfer, Bill Welch Pro-Am champion team, Edward D. Jones sponsored team wins, multiple Knights of Columbus golf tournament championships, Dr. Pepper Invitational wins, and many other notable rounds of golf throughout his lifetime. He enjoyed family time at a young age at the Lake of the Ozarks with his parents and siblings, eventually his in-laws, and his own family. On July 25th, 1976, he was united in marriage to Cynthia (Cindy) Churchill at St. Columban Catholic Church in Chillicothe, Missouri. Jim and Cindy were the parents to three children that they made a priority to raise in their hometown of Chillicothe, Missouri.
Jim grew up in Chillicothe working with his family at Alford Advertising. In 1980, Jim purchased the business from his father, Bill Alford. Jim owned and operated what would be “Alford Outdoor Advertising”, which ultimately grew to one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in Missouri. Under Jim’s leadership, Jim and staff increased sales by more than 500% during his ownership and eventually had billboard coverage in nearly 50 Missouri counties. Jim’s work ethic, family, friends, and Chillicothe community were critical to the growth of Alford Outdoor Advertising. In December of 2001, Jim and Cindy finalized the sale of Alford Outdoor Advertising to Flack Outdoor out of Wyoming. Included in the sale were some 800 billboards in 42 counties.
Jim enjoyed a good time, a good joke, a good impression, and good trivial thought-provoking analysis regarding sports and anything he could fathom with his uncanny memory. He has always been a devoted Missouri Tigers fan, Kansas City Royals fan, and Kansas City Chiefs fan during good and bad seasons of sport. Jim was a member of St. Columban Catholic Church in Chillicothe, Knights of Columbus, Chairman of the Livingston County Mizzou Alumni Chapter, Treasurer of Sailaway Bay Homeowners Association, along with providing penmanship and or signage donation and time to many causes such as Chillicothe Festival of Lights, Lake of the Ozarks Sailaway Bay entry signage, Chillicothe Boys and Girls Golf and Basketball team signage, and many other causes throughout his life. Most importantly, Jim was a great husband, a fantastic father, a loving grandfather, a loyal friend and a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Jim was born and raised in the First Christian Church of Chillicothe and attended services every week along with youth group Sunday afternoons. This was the strong foundation on which he built his faith life. When he married Cindy, they decided to continue their faith journey together at St. Columban Catholic Church, where he converted and was an active member. Jim loved talking about his faith to anyone and everyone. He gained all his strength from the Lord and most fervently loved Psalm 91. Survivors include his wife, Cindy, of the home; one daughter, Emily Churchill (Alford) Farwell and husband Bryan, of Leawood, Kansas, two sons, Ryan Patrick Alford and wife, Emily, of Chillicothe, Missouri and son James Daniel Alford of Kansas City, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Claire Churchill Farwell, Kate Adeline Farwell, James Michael Farwell and Jack Michael Farwell, Hattie Reese Alford, Genevieve Ryan Alford, and Tucker Patrick Alford; one brother, William E. (Billy) Alford, Jr. and wife, Olivia, of Villa Park, California; two sisters, Susie Thomas and husband, Patrick, of St. Joseph, Missouri and Ann Lewis and husband, Terry, of Hendersonville, Tennessee; his mother-in-law, Joyce Churchill of Chillicothe, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Adeline Alford, and his father-in-law, Paul Churchill.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Columban Catholic Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. A Parish Rosary will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. with a visitation to follow. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. Inurnment will be held at St. Columban Catholic Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Columban Catholic Church and /or Forest O. Triplett Animal Shelter and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, PO Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri, 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com .
Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.