James Marlyn Hite was born on February 18, 1947, in Moran, Kansas, to John M. Hite and Marianna Koch Hite. He died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the age of 76 with his family surrounding him. He grew up in the Uniontown/Redfield area, attended grade school in Redfield and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1965. He attended Fort Scott Community College after graduation. Jim and Doris were married on December 26, 1969, at First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown. He later completed his degree in education after he and Doris moved to Wichita.
Jim is preceded in death by both his mother and his father. He is survived by his wife, Doris Hite, of the home in Wichita, three sons, Christopher J. Hite of Wichita, Joshua D. Hite of Wichita, and Timothy M. Hite (Chantal) of Troy, Missouri, and one sister, Diana Hite Ford of Wichita. He has ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He loved his family dearly and took great pride in them. He never missed a practice or a game when his sons were playing sports. He even changed his work schedule so he could attend the games.
Jim was on staff at the Wichita Baptist Tabernacle and taught in the Baptist Tabernacle School shortly after he and Doris moved to Wichita. He joined American Family Insurance as an insurance underwriter in 1986 and later changed to an insurance claims adjuster. He retired from American Family in 2012.
Jim loved being in the yard, planting flowers and a garden. It was his stress reliever. He loved red canna bulbs and red geraniums. And, of course, when he was in high school, he loved muscle cars, which he and his friends always drove. In fact, on his first date with Doris, he got a ticket for loud pipes. She never let him forget that.
Jim loved the Lord and was so ready to meet Him. He was not afraid of death because he had assurance of his destination.
Services will be held at New Spring Church in Wichita, Kansas, at 10:30 Thursday morning, July 13, 2023,with burial following in Uniontown Cemetery, Uniontown, KS at 3:00 pm. Donations in place of flowers may be made to divinenest.com, which is a non-profit organization that supports and trains foster and adoptive families. It was an important organization to Jim because of the amazing work they do and the heart they have for kids going through traumatic events. His son, Tim, is the Associate Director. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook atcheneywitt.com.
