James “Jim” Harold Sibley, 87, of Knoxville, passed away in his sleep at Beverly Park Place, Knoxville, TN. Born June 23, 1926 in Red Bay, AL to Neal and Ada Sibley. His family moved to Russellville, AL to start Sibley Oil Company which still operates as the oldest Chevron franchise in the United States. He graduated from Russellville High School and was the last surviving member of the 1943 football team.
He joined the Army Air Corp and served as a rear tail gunner on B29’s in World War II. He returned to Alabama and graduated from his beloved Auburn University and was a proud fraternity member of Sigma Pi Epsilon (SPE).
He began working in sales for International Minerals & Chemical Corporation and became a plant manager in Clarksville, TN, Greeneville, TN, and Spartanburg, SC. In 1973 he came to Knoxville, TN to manage Bill Mullins Tobacco Warehouses & Construction Company. He eventually became President/Owner of Truck Sales and Service, a Volvo Truck dealership until his retirement in 1993. He thoroughly enjoyed following Auburn football, cooking barbeque, and bird hunting. He was married to Dorothy Underwood Sibley on October 31, 1951 and had two sons.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Sibley; son, William “Bill” Sibley; parents, Neal & Ada Sibley; and brothers, Dr. Jack Sibley, David Sibley.
He is survived by his son, Neal Sibley, of Knoxville, TN; sister, Mary Ann Haverest of Ft. Worth, TX; sister-in-law, Betty Sibley of Russellville, AL; and many cousins, nieces, nephews; and two very special people whom he and Dot loved as their own children, Linda Hughes and Steve Mays of Knoxville, TN.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Doug Hembree and the many caregivers over the past year during his illness.
The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at Spry Memorial Chapel, Russellville, AL. The funeral service will follow at 4:00 p.m. in the chapel. Officiating at the service will be Dr. Gene Balding. Burial will be at Knights of Pythias Cemetery, Russellville, AL.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Prosperity Drive, Knoxville, TN 37923, in memory of James Sibley. WAR EAGLE!!!!!
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family with the local arrangements.
