James E. Lorimor, Sr., 83, died Monday November 20, 2023 at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, Kansas. He was born February 25, 1940 in Norton, Kansas; the oldest son of Cecil Earl and Betty Jean (Allen) Lorimor.
After high school, Jim worked at his dad's sheet metal business in Norton before beginning his career as a mechanic at Kansas Department of Transportation Norton. He transferred to KDOT Ulysses in 1963 and then to KDOT Dighton in 1964, before retiring as Equipment Shop Superintendent in 1995. After retirement, Jim worked part-time at several local auto parts stores before creating Lorimor Enterprises. He specialized in radiator repair but was a skilled welder of everything metal.
Jim married Nelda Kay McKie in Norton on June 18, 1961. They divorced in 1976 and on December 30, 1979, he married Deborah Lee Back. Jim was a member of the American Motorcycle Association and raced motorcycles competitively across the state with a tight knit group of friends. He raced with various number plates through the years, achieving as high as 2nd place in points for the 1968 AMA Kansas Open Class and as high as 3rd in the nation in 1969. His stepmom hand painted his full-face helmet that made him easily recognized at the track. He built many motorcycle frames for other racers through the years and has a frame on display at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, Kansas. The frame he built was used as the oil tank. After giving up racing motorcycles, he built and raced a Mopar hobby stock car. One of his highlights was winning the trophy dash at Lane County Speedway and got his photo taken with the Budweiser girls. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing on a league pool team, and playing golf; however, Jim saw no need to purchase golf balls when he could just as well collect them from around the local golf course and lay claim to them with his infamous JEL. Above all, Jim loved his family and cherished time spent with each of them.
Survivors include his children- Christine & Erin Carter of Dighton, Kalene Yakel of Lakin, James Jr. & Annita Lorimor of Dighton, Brandon Lorimor of Garden City, and Michael & Stephanie Lorimor of Maize; companion- Patti Wagner of Dighton; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; brother- John & Iva Lorimor of Wichita, sister-in-law- Debbie Lorimor of Norton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepmom- Ito Lorimor, wife- Deborah Lorimor, brother- Joe Lorimor, a sister- Janet Bird, and a son-in-law, Kirk Yakel.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday November 25, 2023 at the First Christian Church in Dighton, Kansas. Burial will follow immediately in Dighton Memorial Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lane County Country Club in care of Boomhower Funeral Home.
Boomhower Funeral Home P.O. Box 891 Dighton Kansas 67839
After high school, Jim worked at his dad's sheet metal business in Norton before beginning his career as a mechanic at Kansas Department of Transportation Norton. He transferred to KDOT Ulysses in 1963 and then to KDOT Dighton in 1964, before retiring as Equipment Shop Superintendent in 1995. After retirement, Jim worked part-time at several local auto parts stores before creating Lorimor Enterprises. He specialized in radiator repair but was a skilled welder of everything metal.
Jim married Nelda Kay McKie in Norton on June 18, 1961. They divorced in 1976 and on December 30, 1979, he married Deborah Lee Back. Jim was a member of the American Motorcycle Association and raced motorcycles competitively across the state with a tight knit group of friends. He raced with various number plates through the years, achieving as high as 2nd place in points for the 1968 AMA Kansas Open Class and as high as 3rd in the nation in 1969. His stepmom hand painted his full-face helmet that made him easily recognized at the track. He built many motorcycle frames for other racers through the years and has a frame on display at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, Kansas. The frame he built was used as the oil tank. After giving up racing motorcycles, he built and raced a Mopar hobby stock car. One of his highlights was winning the trophy dash at Lane County Speedway and got his photo taken with the Budweiser girls. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing on a league pool team, and playing golf; however, Jim saw no need to purchase golf balls when he could just as well collect them from around the local golf course and lay claim to them with his infamous JEL. Above all, Jim loved his family and cherished time spent with each of them.
Survivors include his children- Christine & Erin Carter of Dighton, Kalene Yakel of Lakin, James Jr. & Annita Lorimor of Dighton, Brandon Lorimor of Garden City, and Michael & Stephanie Lorimor of Maize; companion- Patti Wagner of Dighton; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; brother- John & Iva Lorimor of Wichita, sister-in-law- Debbie Lorimor of Norton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepmom- Ito Lorimor, wife- Deborah Lorimor, brother- Joe Lorimor, a sister- Janet Bird, and a son-in-law, Kirk Yakel.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday November 25, 2023 at the First Christian Church in Dighton, Kansas. Burial will follow immediately in Dighton Memorial Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lane County Country Club in care of Boomhower Funeral Home.
Boomhower Funeral Home P.O. Box 891 Dighton Kansas 67839
James E. Lorimor, Sr., 83, died Monday November 20, 2023 at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, Kansas. He was born February 25, 1940 in Norton, Kansas; the oldest son of Cecil Earl and Betty Jean (Allen) Lorimor.
After high school, Jim worked at his dad's sheet metal business in Norton before beginning his career as a mechanic at Kansas Department of Transportation Norton. He transferred to KDOT Ulysses in 1963 and then to KDOT Dighton in 1964, before retiring as Equipment Shop Superintendent in 1995. After retirement, Jim worked part-time at several local auto parts stores before creating Lorimor Enterprises. He specialized in radiator repair but was a skilled welder of everything metal.
Jim married Nelda Kay McKie in Norton on June 18, 1961. They divorced in 1976 and on December 30, 1979, he married Deborah Lee Back. Jim was a member of the American Motorcycle Association and raced motorcycles competitively across the state with a tight knit group of friends. He raced with various number plates through the years, achieving as high as 2nd place in points for the 1968 AMA Kansas Open Class and as high as 3rd in the nation in 1969. His stepmom hand painted his full-face helmet that made him easily recognized at the track. He built many motorcycle frames for other racers through the years and has a frame on display at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, Kansas. The frame he built was used as the oil tank. After giving up racing motorcycles, he built and raced a Mopar hobby stock car. One of his highlights was winning the trophy dash at Lane County Speedway and got his photo taken with the Budweiser girls. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing on a league pool team, and playing golf; however, Jim saw no need to purchase golf balls when he could just as well collect them from around the local golf course and lay claim to them with his infamous JEL. Above all, Jim loved his family and cherished time spent with each of them.
Survivors include his children- Christine & Erin Carter of Dighton, Kalene Yakel of Lakin, James Jr. & Annita Lorimor of Dighton, Brandon Lorimor of Garden City, and Michael & Stephanie Lorimor of Maize; companion- Patti Wagner of Dighton; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; brother- John & Iva Lorimor of Wichita, sister-in-law- Debbie Lorimor of Norton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepmom- Ito Lorimor, wife- Deborah Lorimor, brother- Joe Lorimor, a sister- Janet Bird, and a son-in-law, Kirk Yakel.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday November 25, 2023 at the First Christian Church in Dighton, Kansas. Burial will follow immediately in Dighton Memorial Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lane County Country Club in care of Boomhower Funeral Home.
Boomhower Funeral Home P.O. Box 891 Dighton Kansas 67839
After high school, Jim worked at his dad's sheet metal business in Norton before beginning his career as a mechanic at Kansas Department of Transportation Norton. He transferred to KDOT Ulysses in 1963 and then to KDOT Dighton in 1964, before retiring as Equipment Shop Superintendent in 1995. After retirement, Jim worked part-time at several local auto parts stores before creating Lorimor Enterprises. He specialized in radiator repair but was a skilled welder of everything metal.
Jim married Nelda Kay McKie in Norton on June 18, 1961. They divorced in 1976 and on December 30, 1979, he married Deborah Lee Back. Jim was a member of the American Motorcycle Association and raced motorcycles competitively across the state with a tight knit group of friends. He raced with various number plates through the years, achieving as high as 2nd place in points for the 1968 AMA Kansas Open Class and as high as 3rd in the nation in 1969. His stepmom hand painted his full-face helmet that made him easily recognized at the track. He built many motorcycle frames for other racers through the years and has a frame on display at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette, Kansas. The frame he built was used as the oil tank. After giving up racing motorcycles, he built and raced a Mopar hobby stock car. One of his highlights was winning the trophy dash at Lane County Speedway and got his photo taken with the Budweiser girls. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing on a league pool team, and playing golf; however, Jim saw no need to purchase golf balls when he could just as well collect them from around the local golf course and lay claim to them with his infamous JEL. Above all, Jim loved his family and cherished time spent with each of them.
Survivors include his children- Christine & Erin Carter of Dighton, Kalene Yakel of Lakin, James Jr. & Annita Lorimor of Dighton, Brandon Lorimor of Garden City, and Michael & Stephanie Lorimor of Maize; companion- Patti Wagner of Dighton; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; brother- John & Iva Lorimor of Wichita, sister-in-law- Debbie Lorimor of Norton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepmom- Ito Lorimor, wife- Deborah Lorimor, brother- Joe Lorimor, a sister- Janet Bird, and a son-in-law, Kirk Yakel.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday November 25, 2023 at the First Christian Church in Dighton, Kansas. Burial will follow immediately in Dighton Memorial Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lane County Country Club in care of Boomhower Funeral Home.
Boomhower Funeral Home P.O. Box 891 Dighton Kansas 67839
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