James (Jim) Millam of Raymore, MO (formerly of Clinton) passed away April 21, 2025 at the Foxwood Springs Senior Living Community in Raymore.
Jim was born May 29, 1938 in Vista, Missouri to Aldo and Anna Millam. The youngest of six children. Jim grew up in and around Clinton graduating from Clinton High School in 1955.
In August 1957, Jim married Mary Joan (Jo) Rountree and of that union came four sons, Daniel, Douglas, David and Darren and for a short while, Foster daughter, Dee Weathers.
In 1964, and after a stint of cabinet making in his shop in the Huntingdale community, Jim bought a beat up, well used backhoe tractor with the intent of selling and installing steel cold war bomb and storm shelters to make some extra money. While the storm shelter business in and of itself did not take off, Jim became quite proficient in the operation of that old backhoe and Jim Millam Ditching was created. Jim installed all manner of water lines, water mains, septic systems, and sewer mains throughout the area for residents and municipals alike. He was a master backhoe operator. As honest as a man could be, Jim developed a reputation for going the extra mile for his customers and always treated everyone fairly.
Times got lean in the early 1980s and Jim, along with son, Dan, began working more and more for major contractors in the Kansas City area leaving dedicated employee, David Porter, to run the Clinton based operations. Through Jim’s hard work and solid reputation, Jim Millam Ditching thrived and eventually had several operators working throughout the KC area on major construction projects. Jim eventually sold off the Clinton based operations to David Porter and David Porter Ditching was launched.
Jim “retired” in 1998 due to Jo’s health problems with lung cancer. After 42 years of marriage, Jo passed away in January of 1999. While “retired”, Jim did keep a few pieces of equipment for use on personal projects and blessing his neighbors.
In October 2001, Jim married Kathleen Goff of Windsor, MO and they continued to live in the Quarles area until Kathy’s retirement shortly thereafter. Jim built his lake house, nicknamed “The Hotel” by his neighbors, in Lake of the Ozarks for his retirement years with enough room for anyone that wanted to come enjoy some lake time. Jim loved to have guests. If you ever met the Jim, you were invited to come ride the pontoon and have a beer or two…maybe three.
After Kathy’s passing, Jim continued the lake life until May of 2023 where he moved back to the Quarles property now owned by son, David. Jim lived there a few months until it was necessary to move him closer to family and Jim took up residence at Foxwood Springs Senior Living Community in Raymore, MO. Jim quickly became friends with just about everyone even though his memory was beginning to fade. He may not have remembered everyone’s name, but they sure remembered him!
No matter the situation, Jim offered to help friends, neighbors and strangers to the best of his ability even when his mental and physical shape prevented him from doing so. Helping other people was in his DNA and he would give anyone the shirt off his back. He was a man of grace and as far as it is known, he was incapable of holding a grudge. Jim was a person that offered second, third and fourth chances to people to make a bad situation good again. He was a humorous fellow always having a joke or funny story to share. Though he was not perfect, this world was a better place with Jim Millam in it.
Preceding Jim in death were wives Jo and Kathy, parents Anna and Aldo, Sisters Dorothy, Helen and Midge; brothers Charles and Don and son, Darren. Jim leaves behind sons, Dan (Terri) of Clinton MO; Doug (AKA Cleve) of Springfield, MO; David (Anne) of Lee’s Summit, MO, and six grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, plus nieces and nephews along with many, many friends. Very special thanks to the staff at Foxwood Springs who treated “Mr. Jim” like a king in all phases of his stay.
Jim was a long-time member of Quarles Baptist Church and attended New Hope Methodist Church while at the lake.
Jim passed away to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 21, 2025 at the Foxwood Springs Senior Living Community.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., just prior to the service. Interment will be in the Vansant Road Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Vansant Road Cemetery, Quarles Baptist Church or the Henry County Museum, Clinton, MO, and these donations may be left in care of the funeral home
