James Roy Lance – Carbondale, IL (formerly of Sesser, IL)

James Roy Lance, 78, Carbondale, IL (formerly of Sesser, IL) went Home to be with the Father on Sunday, September 14, at 9:27 in the evening in his home at The Landings in Carbondale, Illinois surrounded by family.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, September 18th at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Pastor Ken Petty officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation is from noon until 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Jim was born November 20, 1946 to Roy Everett and Lois (Clark) Lance. Jim married his High School sweetheart Beverly (Murray) May 20, 1964 and they enjoyed 61 wedded years together. Jim wore many hats during his life, an example of his ability to do so many things. He was a State and Federal Meat Inspector, Coal Mine Mechanic, and retired as a Prison Guard. Throughout his life he loved the farm and everything that went with it. He grew up on a peach and apple orchard (Clark & Brower Orchards), was a grain and hay farmer, and also raised hogs, cattle and sheep. He and his father Roy planted a smaller orchard later in life and spent many days together in a labor of love.

The roles he loved the most, though, were those of loving Husband, Dad, Papa, Grandpa, Papa Great and Uncle Jimmy. He loved with his whole heart and his family and friends loved him back with all of theirs. He mixed that love with a pinch of orneriness that kept everyone laughing and on their toes. In recent years as he was robbed of many memories his eyes would playfully twinkle with a smile and his family knew he was still with us. Jim loved hunting and fishing and spending time in the outdoors. He loved fishing and quail hunting and training bird dogs in his younger years. As he grew older he spent countless hours in the woods deer hunting with his son, Clark, and then grandsons Jamie and Jaden. After an eventful January day in 2022, where it seemed every single person whose life he ever touched (and there were so many) was out looking for him, Jim and Beverly spent his final years at The Landings in Carbondale. There, not surprisingly, they found even more family.

He was loved deeply by so many of the nurses and staff that cared for him the last three years. That love for “Jimbo” was never more evident than in the final days as so many of those nurses past and present came to see him one last time. Jim was a longtime member of Grace Awakening Church in Benton where he and Bev were a fixture for many years until he was unable to attend. Pastor Ken Petty and wife Joyce and the entire congregation helped the family through joy and sorrow and prayed diligently as Jim battled for 15 years after his diagnosis.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Beverly, along with son Brent Lance of Chicago, and son Clark Lance and wife Stacey of Sesser. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Adrian Lance of Indianapolis, Em England and husband Damian of Litchfield, Joel and Mia Lance of Springfield, Jamie Lance and wife Katrina of Sesser, along with Jaden and Jace Lance of Sesser, and great-grandchildren Ryland and Charlotte England and Easton, Whitley and Kendri Lance. He is also survived by loving sisters-in-law Judy West and Cindy Davey and husband Mike along with nieces Amie Monteggia and husband Joey, Laura Brandon and husband Doug, and Nicole Myers along with nephew Chad Genisio and wife Heather. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Lois Lance, and sister Gay Lance.

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