James Larson, age 83, died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at the MS State Veterans Home in Oxford.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 5, 2016, at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with the Rev. Barry Dickerson and the Rev. Allen McGraw officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley.

He was born Aug. 10, 1933, in Water Valley to the late James E. and Janie Hunt Larson. James attended NWCC where he played football in 1953 and 1954. While attending the University of MS he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and earned his degree in Business Administration. After completing his service in the United States Army, James worked in the Grocery Business for over 60 years, as an owner and operator of the Larson’s Grocery stores. He was an avid Ole Miss Rebel Fan and a member of the UMAA, and never missed a game until his health declined. James was an avid golfer and part of the wining team of the 1984 Danny Thomas Memphis Classics with professional golfer, Jerry Pate. He was a member of First Methodist Church of Water Valley where he served as a member of the Administrative Board, a past President of the Yalobusha Country Club, and a member of the Board of Directors at Yalobusha General Hospital.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Joy Ann Larson.

James is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ann Carter Larson of Water Valley; two sons, Don (Alison) Larson of Water Valley and Keith (Dawn) Larson of Oxford; his sister, Jane (Tom) Ricketts of Memphis; two brothers, Bill (Wanda) Larson and Joe Larson, all of Oxford; four grandchildren, Barrett Larson, Avery Larson, Anna Mathis Larson, and Hays Larson.