James Best's Obituary
Best, Jim, 74, of Odessa, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend of many moved on to Heaven the evening of July 30, 2014. Born in Rocky Mount, N.C. Jim moved to Tampa as a young boy. After graduating from Hillsborough High School in 1958 he enlisted in the USAF and served in Shemya, AK and Bari, Italy. He returned to Tampa and worked at Marine Bank, the Florida Insurance Commission and The Tampa Port Authority. He was a graduate of USF. Jim was a member of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors for over 30 years, selling real estate throughout Tampa Bay. He was very dedicated to Keystone Community Church and served on the Facilities Acquisition Team. Jim is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Kathy, son, James Best Jr., granddaughters, Isabella and Brianna and their mother, Tonya, brothers Bill (Ann) and Randy, in-laws, William and Sara Cooper, Herb and Vicki Shoun and numerous nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jim’s honor to Keystone Community Church Building Fund, 21010 St. Rd. 54, Lutz, FL 33558 or the HPH Hospice Foundation, 12107 Majestic Blvd., Hudson, FL 34677. A Celebration of Life will be held at Keystone Community Church, August 9 at 10 AM. Jim never complained about being stricken with pancreatic cancer and always professed his assurance of his ultimate destination.
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