James (Jim) Aaron Park was born on August 23, 1934, in Paducah, Kentucky, to Frank McCoy Park and Della Marie Vinson. He passed away on December 22, 2024.
Jim lived a long and fulfilling life. He graduated from Tilghman High School, Class of ‘52, and worked as the manager at the local Hancocks Grocery store. However, he felt a calling for something greater.
He and his wife, Jane, moved to Jackson, Tennessee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education. The family then relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where Jim received his Master of Divinity with Greek Honors from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Weston, Missouri.
In 1973, Jim and his family began a significant chapter of their lives as missionaries with the Southern Baptist Convention in Liberia, West Africa. Initially, Jim taught Bible classes to 10th and 12th grade students at Ricks Institute, a boarding school for children from kindergarten through 12th grade, and also served as the pastor of the school’s church, Washington Chapel.
Later, he was assigned to The Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary, where he taught courses in Bible, Ethics, and Greek. During Liberia’s Civil War, he served as the president of the seminary.
In total, Jim and Jane spent 30 years in West Africa, with 25 of those years in Liberia. He cherished his life and made a positive impact on many people. To this day, he is fondly remembered by his students.
Jim is survived by his wife of 72 years, Jane Park; his daughter, Kathi Gutierrez (Anthony); his son, Jim; two siblings, Mary Elizabeth Burchette (Paducah) and Frank Raymond Park (Orlando); as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings, and two children, Denise Williamson and Kenneth Lee Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Dignity: Liberia (dignityliberia.org), a ministry founded by his daughter, Kathi Gutierrez. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 171, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063.
