Earline Elaine James

There will be no formal service for Earline Elaine James, 61, Lawrence. She passed away Monday, January 8, 2018 in her home.

Earline was born August 7, 1956 in Kansas City, KS the daughter of Emanuel and Gladys (Anderson) James.

She was a graduate of Sumner High School in Kansas City, KS and a graduate of The University of Kansas.

She was a family social worker for SRS with the State of Kansas.

She is survived by her two brothers, Lemuel James, Clay Center, KS and Henry Olds, Fairfax, VA.

16 Condolences

  1. Brenda Kay Olmstead on January 11, 2018 at 8:02 am

    Earline will be missed. We were co-workers and I will always remember her funny remarks, or singing the “Hump Day” song on Wednesday’s with me. If you got to know Earline she had a love of Jazz music and African art. She was always generous and kind to others. She was so empathetic that when she attended baby showers, she always brought two gifts. One was for the unborn and the other was for it’s sibling. She felt that made them feel special and not left out. Someone this kind has just received her Angel wings, bless you Earline. I will miss you friend.



  2. Linda Bock on January 11, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    I met Earline after she retired and saw her many places out and about in Lawrence. She was always soft spoken, passionate about music, food, and sales. A very kind soul. Much love for you, Earline.



  3. Linda Bock on January 11, 2018 at 4:30 pm

    I met Earline after she retired and saw her many places out and about in Lawrence. She was always soft spoken, passionate about music, food, and sales. A very kind soul. Much love for you, Earline.



  4. Marilyn Crane on January 11, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    Earline I remember working with you at SRS,RIP old friend



  5. Penny Schau on January 11, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    I will always have a special place for Earline in my heart. I supervised her for many years at SRS and remember her absolutely hilarious sense of humor – self-deprecating, intelligent, original, and insightful. She had a kind heart and loved her kitties, volunteering at the Humane Society after her retirement. She also loved Reggae music, African art, Malcom X, President Obama, and growing her houseplants. She had an aunt she missed dearly who had given her what we all need most of all, and that was unconditional love. She was truly unique, stylish, giving, and humble. She was known in the office as the one to go to when you wanted to know where in the community a service existed that could help someone when we could not. And, she would laugh to hear a compliment about herself, but it’s all true, and I will miss her. Im sorry her life was too short, and it was probably harder than it should have been, but she made the most of it and I’m glad I got to be in it with her.



  6. Nancy McMechan on January 11, 2018 at 8:05 pm

    I worked with Earline for many years, and she was truly a special person. She enjoyed laughter, and laughed often, but it was even better to her when you laughed along with her. Even when things were not so easy, she found a way to push through. She was spiritual, kind and giving. She would quietly observe and notice the little things that would bring someone joy, like the little ceramic unicorns that just appeared on my desk one morning, and still sit on my shelf at work. Rest in peace, Earline, we will miss you.



  7. Liz Hall on January 12, 2018 at 10:20 am

    I worked with Earline many many years. She was always a very kind and spiritual person and always willing to help. Rest in peace my friend! You will truly be missed.



  8. Jo Anne Zingo on January 15, 2018 at 10:51 am

    Earline took my dance classes during the 80’s and early 90’s, and performed with our fledgling dance company at a few Lawrence events. She attended our shows and I took those opportunities to catch up each year. We met up again in an exercise class a few years ago, and we shared smiles and groans across the room. What a lovely lady and what a sad loss to the Lawrence community. I was shocked and saddened to hear of her passing, and send my heartfelt condolences to her brothers.



  9. Rosie Shelton on January 15, 2018 at 11:17 am

    I am so sad to hear about Earline. She has been in my exercise class for years and was always so cheerful and kind. After every class she would come tell me to have a good day. I will miss her smile so much.



  10. Lois Orth-Lopes on January 15, 2018 at 10:35 pm

    My husband, Steve, and I met Earline in Rosie Shelton’s exercise class. For years we took our regular positions next to her and frequently chatted after class. Her kindness was apparent, even in that setting. I will sincerely miss our conversations about music, book sales, gardening, yard work, and the stories about all her bracelets. I loved her laugh!



  11. Jennifer Gormley on January 26, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    Earline was a volunteer of ours at the Lawrence Humane Society, and she was a tremendous woman. Every Tuesday and Thursday she would come and spend hours with the cats. Earline made sure to take time with every single cat, and she always knew what each needed to feel loved. Visiting with Earline was always a treat, as she also reminded me of my grandmother. I shall miss her dearly.



  12. Jessica L. on January 28, 2018 at 3:41 pm

    I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Earline’s passing. Earline and I met through Community Village Lawrence, and over the past few years, I’d come to think of her as a dear friend. She had great comic timing and a knack for pointing out life’s little absurdities. Of course, many of us who knew Earline will also remember her kindness. All things human, four-legged, and inanimate were targets for her unconditional empathy. That’s what made Earline such a unique and beautiful person.

    Earline, you will be missed by so many people. Wherever you are now, I hope they have Taco Tuesdays, bangle bracelets, good music, and lots of cats for you to cuddle.



  13. Gayle on February 12, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    Earline left quite quite a hole in our community. Her humerus observations in film classes, exercise and others were spot on. There is a long list of people she helped directly with car rides and encouragement or the many who benefited from her efforts in the community without every meeting her. She did everything with artistic style that set a standard for others.



  14. Linda Clark on February 27, 2018 at 9:47 pm

    I first saw Earline@ srs & thought I bet she’s super COOL & I’d love being her friend! Then after she retired I met her formally dumpster diving and have been truly blessed to have been a friend and dear acquaintance.Earline James was brilliant and beautiful and generous and funnY and kind and gentle.She was meticulous about recycling and donating things & time to the yart sale& the humane society. She gathered towels rugs stuffed animals from the dumpster take them home wash them and take them to the humane society. Commited nobel
    Uncompromising dedicated to the cats.I will forever remember Earline James and her sweet voice saying take good care now see you later give Bob Marley a big fat wet kiss for me till I see you again ONE LOVE ONE heART always friend♡♥♡



  15. Mary Jorn on April 16, 2018 at 6:38 pm

    Earline, we miss you at choir! …My husband Evan and I met the irrepressible, gentle and generous, interesting and interested Earline at the KU Intergenerational Choir we sing with through the Senior Center. She would show up with a big bag full of one-of-a-kind handheld percussion instruments for us all to use for a certain song. “Where on earth did you find all these?” I asked, fascinated. “And why?” because I didn’t imagine she collected them knowing she would one day be in a choir that could use them. “Oh, everywhere,” Earline answered. “Yard sales, trash cans, thrift stores. If I see something that can be made into an instrument for sound I like to rescue it for that.” I think she was a genius at recycling. Her collection of beautiful bracelets (all worn at once) and her surprising and artistic clothing always made me wish I had her eye for striking pieces, for knowing something in the secondhand store would work just right. Always pleasant, with her throaty voice and low laugh, Earline was a joy. We will dedicate our choir concert to her this year.



  16. Irene Byers on behalf of Sumner Class of 1974 on August 7, 2018 at 9:24 am

    It saddens me to find out of Earline’s passing so late after the fact. Earline was a friend and a proud and faithful alumni of the Sumner High School Class of 1974. She was a sweet, sweet spirit; soft spoken, friendly and she will definitely be missed. We communicated by email and it wasn’t unusual for her to respond late but I’m sorry that a follow up or a call wasn’t made. It wasn’t unusual for her to travel from Lawrence to KCK to support our class functions. The doors of Heaven opened up and received a true Angel when Earline arrived.



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