James Sherman Puckett, 76, passed away December 25, 2021, at his home in Grain Valley. He was born June 4, 1945, and attended East High School where he graduated in 1963.

He earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1967. He worked at KXEO-AM and KWWR-FM in Mexico, Missouri until he entered the U.S. Army in September 1967. He served a year in Vietnam as a broadcast specialist.

After being discharged, he joined The Associated Press, working first in St. Louis and later at the Kansas City Bureau, for more than thirty years on the broadcast desk.

Mr. Puckett is survived by his wife , Marsha (Hohlfeld) Puckett and two daughters: Diane Puckett and Sally (Puckett) Whitaker (John Floyd) and grandsons, Ezra and Levi. Also by a cousin, Nanett (McGee) Sachs. He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Lynn Puckett; his grandparents, Gladys and Cecil Puckett; and his aunt, Martha (Puckett) McGee.

Mr. Puckett donated his remains to Kansas City University. A memorial is planned for spring 2022 at Butterfly Trail in Grain Valley.