James "Jim" Hugh Little

James "Jim" Hugh Little, 85, of Jefferson City, passed away, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, in Fort Smith, Ark. He was born Dec. 24, 1929, in Little Rock, Ark. the son of the late Jack W. Little and Abby Lucille Williams Little. He was united in marriage on Jan. 23, 1954, in Fayetteville, Ark. to Rosalie Delaney who preceded him in death on May 24, 2014. Jim majored in civil engineering at the University of Arkansas where he graduated in 1953 Cum Laude. Jim served in the United States Army (1954-1956) stationed at Fort Chaffee, Ark.; Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and the Presidio of San Francisco, Calif. Prior to 1956, Jim worked for the Arkansas State Highway Department in bridge design. In 1956, Jim was awarded a fellowship from the Automotive Safety Foundation to undertake graduate studies at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. In 1958, Jim became employed as an engineer with the Missouri State Highway Department where he served his professional career until retirement in 1993. He was a member of the Missouri Professional Engineers where he was named Outstanding Young Engineer of the Year in 1963. He was a Mason and served as Master of the Blue Lodge in 1965. In his parenting years, Jim served as President of Moreau Heights and seventh grade Parents and Teachers Organizations; served on the board of the YMCA; and was actively involved in Boy Scout Troop I and the Jefferson City Swim Club. From 1978-1979 Jim and his wife, Rosalie were co-owners of Victoria House Tea Room. Jim was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City for many years where he taught Sunday school and served for a period of time as Sunday school superintendent and on variety of committees. Jim was also a Civil War buff and a self-taught expert on firearms. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie Delaney Little, his son, James Andrew Little, brother-in-law Charles Delaney and his wife Pat, and brother-in-law Sidney Wise. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Little Light and her husband Leslie of Fort Worth, Texas; sister-in-law, Agnes Delaney Wise of Columbia, S.C.; brother-in-law, Sam Delaney and his wife, Patricia of Chapin, S.C.; sister-in-law, Mary Belle Delaney Ervin and her husband Delbert of Charleston, Ark.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with the Rev. Jeannie Martin Dudenhoeffer officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church to be used for Sunday School to benefit young children, 201 Monroe Street, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.