James "Flea" Leonard Starks Jr.

James "Flea" Leonard Starks Jr., age 75, passed away October 14, 2024, at Abrazo West Hospital, Goodyear, AZ. He departed this life surrounded by his children, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Waters Funeral Home. Pastor Charlene Wheeler-Williams will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow at the Vandalia Cemetery.

A visitation celebrating James’ life will be held at 11:00 am until the time of service.

“Flea” as he was known, was born on August 8, 1949, in Paynesville, MO, to Anais L. Stark and Goldie L. Stark. He attended Clopton R-1 school and enlisted in the United States Army where he served from 1975 until he received his Honorable discharge in 1981.

He married Linda Geraldine (Berry) Starks on January 31, 1970, and enjoyed 42 years of marriage prior to her death.

During his working years, Flea worked on local farms, as a truck driver, and maintenance until he retired early to care for his wife.

Flea enjoyed hunting, especially deer, rabbit and racoons. He also loved watching wrestling, including the old WWF, the new WWE and AEW, women’s college softball and the Little League World Series. Above all, he enjoyed making memories with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a member of the Second Christian Church of Vandalia.

He is survived by his sons Timothy Starks, Sr. and wife Tawania, of Glendale, AZ; Tyler Starks of MO; daughters Tonika Starks and partner JP of Buckeye, AZ and Tarasha Starks of Radcliff, KY; sisters Virginia Starks (Darrell Chatman) of Louisiana, MO and Elizabeth Hayes of Springfield IL,; a brother Donald Hammers of Columbia, MO; Aunt Ailene Stark of Louisiana, MO and an Uncle Brick English, NJ; sister-in-law’s Barbara Mahaney (husband the late Robert Mahaney Sr.), Brenda Perkins (husband Donnell Perkins), brother-in-law Roger Chatman (wife the late Joyce Chatman); 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Anais and Goldie Stark, grandparents Jordan B. and Thelma Johnson Hammers, Daisy and Eddie Stark; grandparents in-law, Flora and Van Berry and Emmett Allison and Mary Carter; mother and father-in-law Clifford and Bertie Mae Berry, Sister-in-law; Pamela Hammers; brother-in-law Clifford Berry Jr., several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials are suggested to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in care of Waters Funeral Home.