Obituary of James Richard Talley

James (Jim) Richard Talley age 95, of Chattanooga, TN, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2021. He was a member of Red Bank Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a WWII Navy veteran, Jim was a graduate of East Tennessee Teachers College and Middle Tennessee State University where he received his Master of Education. He was a beloved principal of several Chattanooga schools, retiring from North Chattanooga Junior High School in 1988 after 40 years of service in the school system. Jim married his late wife Mildred Barker Talley on July 20, 1952. He is also preceded in death by his parents Beecher and Alpha Talley, and his siblings Jack, Frankie, Bob, and Agnes. Left behind to cherish his memory are his daughters, Marla Talley Burrows, Danita Talley, and Lavada Talley; his grandchildren, Evan Buttrey, Corinne Burrows, Talley, Neely and John Kane Wood; his sister, Elizabeth (Lib) Neely as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. Jim lived an extraordinary and long life, he was a role model for many and respected by everyone that had the honor of knowing him. He was adored by his daughters and grandchildren. He never forgot a single person he met, and will be remembered by his kindness, generosity, selflessness and wit, always putting his family first. In lieu of flowers, the family requests - in remembrance and in honor of him - to perform an act of kindness or pay it forward to someone as he has done for so many in his lifetime. Graveside services will be held Thursday, January 28 at 1:00 CST Chapel Hill Cemetery East Valley Road, Dunlap with full military honors provided by the Sequatchie Valley Honor Guard. Social distancing and masks will be required. The grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Online condolences can be made at www.reedfamilyfh.com. Arrangements by Standefer-Reed Funeral Home, 50 May Rd, Dunlap, TN.