James Michael Coyle

James “Jim” Michael Coyle, 83, of Moberly, Missouri, passed away peacefully and met the Lord on October 31, 2021 at the Clarence Care Center.

Jim was born March 28, 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Amos James Coyle, Jr. and Madge Harrison. He graduated from Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School with the Class of 1956, then attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, graduating with a degree in Education.

On October 7, 1960, Jim was united in marriage to Arlene, the love of his life, in St. Louis, Missouri. The story goes that she saw Jim walk into the room at class registration at CMSU in Warrensburg and Arlene said “that’s the man I’m going to marry”! From this union they were blessed with two children, James “Jim” Jr and Michelle.

Jim was a High School Head Football, Basketball and Track coach and English Teacher for thirteen years in Lexington, Orrick and Marceline, Missouri. Many former students fondly remember how he treated each student and athlete with respect and fostered their potential regardless of their apparent situations. In 1973, Jim decided to change careers and began a twenty-seven-year career in radio broadcasting, initially as the Sports Director at KWIX/KRES Radio, and then as Farm Director in 1985, where he received Regional and National recognition for excellence in broadcast journalism, representing the corn, soybean, pork, beef and other farm-related families and organizations. He also wrote a weekly column in The Paper, published in Moberly, called “The Eighth Day”. Jim retired in 2000. After retirement, Jim served as the Voice of home MACC Greyhound and Lady Greyhound basketball games, and he played golf nearly every day, until 2010, when he suffered a stroke.

Jim and Arlene enjoyed visiting friends and family and being actively involved in their church. He was a huge Cardinals, Chiefs, and Mizzou Tigers fan, and followed all sports in general. Jim was good at everything he participated in, from ping pong, golf, tennis, bowling, performing yo-yo tricks, card playing and wood carvings. He enjoyed chats with friends and recalling good times from the past. He especially looked forward to weekly calls with his brother-in-law, Don Mueller.

Jim was a member of the Coates Street Presbyterian Church in Moberly where he served as a deacon, and he enjoyed singing in the choir.

Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Arlene; his mother, Madge and father, Amos as well as his sister, Patricia Mueller.

He is survived by his son, Jim (Annette) Coyle Jr, Overland Park, Kansas and daughter, Michelle (Kevin) Kelley, Mickleton, New Jersey; grandchildren, Brandon (Kasey) Molina, Gardner, Kansas, Trenton Vega, Shawnee, Kansas, Ben (Sam) Kelley, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, Rachael Kelley, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Jordan Kelley, Appalachian State University, North Carolina and Ariana Coyle, Overland Park, Kansas and great-grandchildren, Niyah Molina, Gardner, Kansas and Scottlyn Vega, Shawnee, Kansas.

The family suggests donations in his memory to:

Coates Street Presbyterian Church in Moberly. Mail to the church with a memo for Jim Coyle Memorial, 601 W. Coates Street, Moberly, MO 65270, cspcmoberly@gmail.com (Contact Donna Fainter @ 660-651-7953 with any questions about donating, http://coatesstreetpresbyterianchurch.com/)

The National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) to support the future of farm broadcasting https://nafb.com/foundation/contribute-nafb-foundation. A recent interview with Jim by Mike Adams is posted on their website https://nafb.com/blogs/where-are-they-now-jim-coyle

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at Coates Street Presbyterian Church in Moberly after the church service.

Condolences may be shared online at pathwaymemorial.com.