James Wiley Spradling died August 31, 2012. He was born September 6, 1923, in Liberal, Kansas, son of Otto and Blanche Spradling. He graduated from Pratt High School. Jim married Marilyn Hunt in 1948. He lived 40 years in Kansas, 21 years in Iowa and 27 years in Missouri.

During World War II, he served three years in the Army Air Corps, including two and a half in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal and Biak. When he returned from service, he attended Wichita State University and received BA and MA degrees in history. He later completed his doctorate in educational psychology at the University of South Dakota. For many years Jim was an educator in Kansas teaching at St. John High School and serving as principal at Nashville High School, Bluff City High School, and Herington High School. Before leaving Kansas in 1964, he also taught at Wichita Southeast and South high schools. While in Iowa he taught at Northwestern College in Orange City, served a term in the Iowa House of Representatives, became a school psychologist at AEA 4 in northwest Iowa, eventually retiring in 1985 as a supervisor of psychologists and coordinator of social services. After moving to Missouri, he was a member of Region 5 Council for Developmental Disabilities and chairperson for the State Department of Mental Health Committee to develop advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities.


Jim was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn, his parents and sister, Phyllis.

He is survived by his son, Kim (Carol) of Maryville, Missouri; son James H. (Emily) of Ankeny, Iowa; son Jon (Jennifer) of Alton, Iowa; daughter Jane (Lance Mouw) of Clinton, Missouri; and daughter Jill (Tom Tenney-deceased) of Des Moines, Iowa. He is also survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Twin Lakes Hospice, Heartland Community Theatre, and Clinton United Methodist Church and can be left in care of the funeral home. Cremation and services have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Burlington, Kansas at a later date.