James Porter Quinn
James Porter Quinn, 83, of Strafford, Missouri, passed away in his home Sunday, November 15, 2009. James was born December 23, 1929, in north Greene County, Missouri, to Lyda Whitlock and George E. Quinn Sr., who both preceded him in death. Jim was a very loving husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Nadine of the home; daughter Mary E. Quinn of Strafford; daughter Becky Quinn and friend, Sharon Terry of Strafford; son James David and Connie Quinn of Springfield; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He will be especially missed by the family pet, “Buttons”. He is also survived by a brother, George Jr. and Jean Quinn of Springfield; sister Dora Meikle of Branson; brother Robert C. and Phoebe Quinn of Willard; as well as may nieces and nephews. James was ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., in 1956, and served in other Baptist churches in Greene County throughout his life. He was a Navy veteran and served in the Pacific theater in World War II on the U.S.S. Wilson from 1943 to 1945. After the war, he returned to Greene County and married his childhood sweetheart, Lela Nadine Potter, a union that lasted 63 years until his death. Mr. Quinn attended Greenwood and Springfield High School before the war, and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1949. In 1951, he returned to Springfield, where he worked in quality control for Patton’s Creamery and Tastemark Dairy. In 1955, Mr. Quinn started J. Quinnland Farms, where he raised and milked registered Holstein cows. He retired from milking in 1986, with lifetime awards for milk and butterfat production. James was an avid gardener. He was an exhibitor and volunteer for over 70 years at the Ozark Empire Fair. He was an active leader in Greene County 4-H and Kiwanis little league baseball in the 1950s and 1960s. James and Nadine were avid Lady Bears Basketball fans since 1989. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, with interment to follow in Hazelwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to a charity of your choice or plant a tree to honor James’ dedication to agriculture and the sustainable family farm. Special thanks goes to CoxHealth Rehabilitation and Meyer Center for 20 years of support for James and Nadine.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of James Porter Quinn, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.