Breckinridge County KyArchives Obituaries.....Voyles, James L. 2017
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Dana Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00005.html#0001067 October 31, 2017, 11:51 am

Burns Funeral Home
On September 29, 2017, James L. (Jim) Voyles, age 
58, an affable music afficionado and sports enthusiast 
who was born at Perry County Hospital and raised 
in Cloverport, Kentucky, by his parents, Scott 
Morrison Voyles and Betty (Derrick) Voyles, passed 
away peacefully after a long struggle and courageous 
battle with cancer. Jim lived in Owensboro, Kentucky, 
and left this world to be with the three-men he 
admired most, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.

Jim was active in sports during all of his years 
in school. In elementary school, he was a proud 
member of the Cloverport All Stars Baseball team. 
He also played sports in high school, and during 
those years, Jim began a tour as a professional 
wrestler in the early years of that sport, and 
participated in wrestling events in many cities 
in Kentucky.  After attending college, Jim became 
an ordained Baptist minister. Jim became an 
accomplished preacher who helped reach people in 
many small communities without a regular and resident 
minister. He frequently blended old and new movie quotes 
and song lyrics with biblical passages to drive home points 
that resonated with his audience. Ultimately, Jim 
became associated with Macedonia Baptist Church, where he 
further honed his preaching skills and instilled 
enthusiasm and commitment from those who heard him speak.

While employed in the circulation department at the 
Evansville Courier, Jim's enjoyment of sports led him to 
become a basketball referee, and he regularly 
officiated on Friday nights at area high schools. Jim always 
promoted good sportsmanship at all those events, 
and was not reluctant to toss out coaches who failed to be 
good sports or tried to prevail by bullying.  Jim 
began employment with the City of Owensboro, first as 
manager of Hillcrest Golf Course, then later as 
Recreation Superintendent. Jim's passion for amateur and 
college sports caused him to initiate competitive 
sports recruiting and organizing and hosting sports tournaments 
and championship play for the City of Owensboro. 
He traveled to sports recruitment conventions and helped 
secure tournaments that brought many people from 
other states to Kentucky to compete in championships that 
brought great amateur sports to the Owensboro community. 
His significant contribution to those community 
efforts established the foundation for sports tourism 
that continues to this day. He was a driving force 
in helping Owensboro to receive recognition as an 
All-American Sports City.

After leaving employment with the City of Owensboro, Jim 
formed his own sport recruiting and sport-wear companies 
and continued to recruit amateur sports tournaments for 
Owensboro, and later for other cities, including Bowling 
Green, Kentucky. He was most proud of his appointment as 
a Commissioner for American Softball Association, and for 
the successes as an entrepreneur and the growth of his 
businesses.  Jim enjoyed spending time with his friends, 
learning about many topics, and expertly debating on them. 
His keen intellect and piercing sense of humor educated and 
entertained those who spent time with him. Jim's gift to 
those who knew him was his ability to make them laugh, and 
simply enjoy life while in his company.

Jim leaves behind his family, brother John Voyles, and 
sisters Beverly Rush and Rosalind Westerfield, and 
his dear cousin Sue Jorgenson. He is survived by his 
special friend and care-taker Barbie Estes, the love 
of his life, two step-daughters Schaefer (Jake) Freshwater 
and Megan Estes (Jesse Roberts), three grandchildren, 
Pierce, Penny and Weston, and his nieces and nephews who 
were loved and special to him. He also leaves 
behind his life-long friend Greg Catron, and his good 
friend Frank Brancato, and many, many other friends 
who helped him in his endeavors, and who Jim also helped 
as a loyal and committed friend. Jim was a unique 
and caring individual and there is a great emptiness in 
Jim's passing, and he will be greatly missed.

Very special thanks to the staff at Owensboro Health 
Regional Hospital, who always provided excellent care 
and comfort to Jim, and who enjoyed his sense of humor 
mingled with his lectures on politics, and opinions 
on life.

Services have been arranged through Cloverport Funeral Home. 
Visitation is on October 2, 2017 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM, and 
on October 3, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM., followed by 
a memorial service, all at the funeral home and then 
internment in the Cloverport Cemetery.

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