James Dean Capps

December 16, 1939 - December 11, 2020

James “Jim” D. Capps, 80, of Murrayville passed away at his home on the morning of Dec. 11, 2020. He was the son of Everette “Bill” and Myotta (Guthrie) Capps of Pleasant Hill. After graduating from Pleasant Hill High School in 1957 where he played on the basketball team, Jim volunteered and served as a radio communications and missile maintenance specialist for 3 years with the US Army. Upon return to civilian life, he married Delpha Ford of Nebo in 1962. He worked 37 years for GTE/Verizon as a switching technician where he helped the company to transition from analog to digital communications. He also served as a volunteer fireman with the Murrayville Fire Department where he held the role of Treasurer for more than 30 years. After his retirement from the telephone company when his sons lived away, Dick Tannahill became like a third son to him as he used his building and design skills to help Jim and Delpha with the renovation and construction of their new home. In his free time, Jim enjoyed woodworking, attending auctions, restoring wooden wall telephones and spending time with his grandchildren. As a professional clown for some 20 years, Jim loved bringing joy and laughter to children as Fiddlestix the Clown. He honed his craft working with other clowns at the Lincoln’s Laffers Clown Alley where he held the offices of Treasurer and President. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Judy Kremer, sister Joann Harpole and his brother Bobbie Capps. He is survived by his wife Delpha, his sons David (spouse Mariam), Mike (spouse Becky) and three grandchildren: Emily, Sam and Cedric. A visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, at the Daws Family Funeral Home in Jacksonville, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. An interment service will be held in Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. Masks are required during services. Memorials may be made to the Murrayville Woodson Food Pantry or to the Alzheimer’s Association.