James Raymond Bahr, age 93, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Missouri. He was born September 10, 1929, in Gridley, Kansas, the son of Henry Bahr and Lydia Ott Bahr and later beloved step-mother, Emma Reber Bahr. Jim grew up in Gridley and graduated from the Gridley High School. He served for a time with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Jim married Annabelle Strahm on December 27, 1953. Together they had four children. Following Annabelle’s untimely death in 1968, Jim married Ruth M. Banwart. Jim and Ruth enjoyed fifty-four years of married life together. Jim learned the retail business while working at his father’s hardware store in Gridley. In 1952, Jim and his brother purchased the Marshall Auto store in Ft. Scott. Jim later picked up an Otasco franchise where he sold household goods, tires, many appliances and lawnmowers. Jim was hardworking and honest and tried to live by the “Golden Rule.” This attitude made his business a success; he later sold his business and semi-retired in 1996. He still worked part-time at the store and occasionally drove vehicles back from the auction for Shepherd-Team Auto. Being with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave him great joy. He was a member of the Ft. Scott Apostolic Christian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth, and his four children, Teresa Bahr, of Ft. Scott; Judy Schlatter (Phil) of Leo, Indiana; Jerry Bahr (Maria) of Ft. Scott; and Larry Bahr of Deerfield, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Anna Carpenter (Kyle), Adrienne Kellenberger (Ryan), Jared Bahr, Andrew Schlatter (Corrie), Simon Schlatter (Abby), Heather Self (Ben), Austin Bahr and Kendra Bahr and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Roy Bahr of Ft. Myers, Florida. In addition to his first wife, Annabelle, Jim was also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Julie Bahr, two sisters and two brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday, September 19th at the Apostolic Christian Church in Ft. Scott. The family will receive friends on Monday from Noon until service time at the church. A graveside service will be held at 4:00 P.M. Monday at the Lamont Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery in Lamont, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Apostolic Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.