JAMES “JIM” PRIVETT

JASPER- A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, at Thiebaud Auditorium in Lamar for James W. “Jim” Privett, 57, Jasper, who died at 7:38 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, of stage 4 esophageal cancer at Iowa City University Hospital.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Dolores “Dee” and son, Julian; his parents, Melvin Dale and Mebyl; three brothers and their wives, Francis Melvin and Vickie, Jonathan and Sharon and Curtis Lynn and Camille; a sister, Patricia and husband Jim and nieces and nephews, Melvin Jacob, Ashley, Curtis Lynn II, Becca, Nancy and Jessie.

Mr. Privett was born in St. Louis, but grew up in Ellsinore. The family remained there until his freshman year, then moved to Poplar Bluff where he was a 1977 graduate. He was accepted to Columbia University in New York, completing his course of study in 1983 with a BA with a focus in English and Physics. Immediately after graduation he joined Lois Pitts Gerson (LPG) in New York City and in just a short seven years ascended to vice president, associated media director. Here he was hands on, an integral part of the launch of MTV, VH-1, Nickelodeon, USA Today and USA Weekend. It was at LPG where he met his wife to be.

In 1990 he and his wife left LPG to start up their own advertising agency in New York City, j/dp Concepts, Inc., a very successful company for five years, specializing in media research and planning, print design, digital pre-press and production.

Advertising and marketing positions took him from New York to San Francisco, then to Joplin. It was while back in Missouri that he started substitute teaching and discovered that teaching would be the most rewarding career move of his life. He enrolled at Pittsburg State University's Education Master's Program, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude, all the while teaching at Lamar High School.

He was very proud of his son and his accomplishments in music and other areas of interest. He was the type of father that stood out of his son's way and let him follow his heart and own vision. They enjoyed long conversations about philosophy, politics and of course, literature, from even a very young age. It came so naturally to Mr. Privett, to engage him and he never tired of giving his all. His love for his wife was undying and remained steadfast throughout their 30-year union.

Mr. Privett was a quiet man of strong character, who was revered by his students, respected and admired by his fellows teachers, administration and staff and loved and cherished by his family. He told his son and wife on many occasions, “I stayed for the kids”. Teaching was a force that drove him like no other. His desire to see his students succeed motivated all of the tools in his arsenal to inspire, create and evoke curiosity and interest for the world of English literature and beyond. He imparted knowledge and challenged his students with a new perspective, one that by their own tributes, will guide them throughout their lives.