James A. Tichenor

James Allen Tichenor, 55, passed away on Thursday, October 20, 2005, at his home following a three year battle with pancreatic cancer. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Mon., Oct. 23, 11:00 a.m., at the Pilgrim Congregational U.C.C., corner of Glenlord and Washington, St. Joseph, MI, with Rev. Melanie Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph, near his friend Alan Littman. Visitation will be on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 3:00-6:00 p.m., at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, St. Joseph, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice At Home, Inc., 2626 W. John Beers Rd., Stevensville, MI, 49127, or to Pilgrim Congregational U.C.C., 1200 W. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Friends wishing to leave a message, or to sign the family guestbook, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Jim was born on July 24, 1950, St. Mary?s Hospital, Evansville, IN, the son of James A. and Corine (Clark) Tichenor. He graduated from St. Joseph High School with the class of 1969; graduated from Ferris State University and held two associate degrees from Lake Michigan College, the last being from the M-Tec Center to update his skills in Engineering/Quality Control. He was employed at Zenith Data Systems, later Gast Mfg., and most recent part-time at AutoZone, St. Joseph. His main hobby was cars, and more cars. He was an avid fan of NASCAR and Mike Martin. This spark was firmly planted after a couple of Watkins Glen visits with his Dad and brother in the 60?s. His 1976 Mustang was his pride and joy. He earned several golf trophies (Youth Teams) from Berrien Hills C.C., and bowling trophies from Gersonde?s as he was growing up. He loved his home and family, always wanting the best for them, especially and education. He loved his church; was a member of the choir; chaired the Stewardship Committee for several years, as well as, Venetian Festival Raffle Ticket Sales, and was always ready to give a hand including the Habitat for Humanities Project the U.C.C. House. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Cynthia Jo (Kimball) Tichenor; two sons, Jeffery ? FSU, Grand Rapids Campus, and Joel ? MSU, East Lansing Campus; a daughter, Julie ? a senior at St. Joseph High School; a brother, John (Mary) Tichenor and their son, Jordan, of Portland, Oregon; and his mother, Corine (Clark) Tichenor of St. Joseph. Jim was preceded in death by his father, James A. Tichenor, in 1999; his paternal grandparents ? O.O. and Susie (Heavenhill-Lynch) Tichenor of Owensboro, Kentucky; and maternal grandparents ? G. Walter and Ethel (Frost) Clark of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.