James Thomas Tribe's Obituary
James Thomas “Jim” Tribe, age 81, died at 1:05pm on Christmas Day 2025.
Jim was born at home in Wayne County, Illinois, on 4/14/1944. He was the oldest boy of 7 children born to Owen Orlando and Gladys “Marie” (Kiger) Tribe. He grew up farming and learning how to figure things out and the meaning of hard work. He was brought up in the New Hope Church near Fairfield, Illinois. Jim married Joyce Ann Peyton on November 2, 1963, and they moved to Decatur, IL, where they raised 2 daughters, Teresa and Dana. At one point he was working 3 jobs. They divorced in 1989. Jim met and married Mary Foss in 1990. He worked for CAT for 42 years, but was always working on the side, building houses or landscaping. He loved learning “how to.” He retired from CAT 6/2006 but never slowed down. His true passion was building old cars from the ground up, and his paint jobs were perfection. He restored a 1928 Ford truck, a 1928 Ford Roadster street rod, and most recently a 1939 Ford. He built several homes, ran an Archery business and competed in archery events, enjoyed deer and hog hunting with bow and arrow, and yardwork.
Four years ago, Jim was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and was treated both in Decatur and at Barnes in St. Louis. Through all the many treatments, tests, and pain, he never wavered in his belief that “All things God works for the good of those who love Him,” Romans 8:28.
Jim was a past member of Trinity Church of the Nazarene, where he helped with bus ministry, and most recently a member of Moundford Free Methodist Church, where he was a trustee for many years and member of the security team.
Surviving are his wife Mary, daughters Teresa and Dana (John) Woods, brothers Jack (Mary Jo), John (Lisa), Jerry (Patricia), sisters Betty Atteberry and Brenda (Dan) Wheeler, grandchildren Darian and Ja’Quan, and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by parents Owen and Marie, sister Bonnie Overmyer, and grandson Devin.
Services for Jim will be held on Wednesday, December 31, at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 10am and will be followed by a funeral service at 12pm. Condolences may be shared with the family at https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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