James Mason Hart

James Mason Hart, 75, of Nevada, Mo., passed away Nov. 29, 2015, at Mercy Hospital, in Springfield, after a very brief illness. He was born Nov. 6, 1940, in Shelbina, Mo., the son of Forrest Wayne and Lois Elizabeth (Rogers) Hart. He met his future wife, Rama Faye Campbell on a blind date in Nevada in November of 1962. They were married two years later on Nov. 28, 1964, in Nevada. In 2014, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on an Alaskan Cruise.

In his youth, Jim lived in Hamilton and Osceola, Mo., and Corydon, Iowa. He was active as a Boy Scout for many years. As a teenager he was called to the Mic-O-Say tribe at Roe Bartle Scout Camp at Osceola and the following year was made an Eagle Scout. As an adult he served as an Explorer Scout Master in Topeka. He graduated from Corydon High School in 1958. After a year of college he joined the United States Air Force serving our country from 1959 to 1963, both state side and abroad in England. In 1965, Jim began employment with the National Cash Register Company later known as NCR Corporation, as a field engineer in Topeka, Kan. His 28 years of NCR employment in both domestic and international venues as a Systems /Application engineer took him to many countries. In the mid-1970s Jim and Rama lived in Tripoli, Libya, where both worked for NCR. Upon returning to the United States they lived for 20 years in Wichita, Kan., then Harrisonville before making Nevada their permanent home in 2004.

Jim was baptized in his early years and attended church in many places. Recently he had been attending services at the United Methodist Church in Nevada. In 2014, he received his 50-year Masonic pin and was an endowed member of the Osage Lodge No. 303. He was also a member of the Truman Club.

Jim's interests were many and varied. For many years he owned Corvettes and loved driving and auto crossing them. After buying a place on Truman Lake he took up bass fishing. Woodworking was another talent that he possessed. In 1998, Jim and Rama bought their first motorhome and enjoyed their travels across the U.S. They were active members of Ozarks Prairie Sooners, a chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association. Jim also especially enjoyed the camaraderie of his Tuesday/Thursday coffee group.

Survivors in addition to his wife, Rama, include his cousin, Thomas A. Rogers and wife, Claudia, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and their children and families; brother-in-law, Keith Campbell; niece, Michelle Dawn Campbell; nephew, Dustin K. Campbell and wife, Robin; great-nieces, Brooklyn Swait and Ashlyn Swait; and great-nephews, Cayden Campbell and Morgan Campbell, all of Nevada; along with many close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

A memorial service with Masonic Rites and military honors is scheduled at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada, with the Rev. Sharon Freeman officiating. Visitation is scheduled from 1 to 1:30 p.m., just prior to the service, also at the funeral home. Interment will follow at a later date in Iowa.

Contributions may be made in Jim's memory to the Masonic Home in Columbia, Mo., or to the United Methodist Church in Nevada in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.