James Cecil Barton was born on October 17th, 1930 in Possum Holler in Swain County, North Carolina. As a young child, he lived in North Carolina and Tennessee and survived the Great Depression. In 1937 at age 7 he moved to Chicago where he saw his first street car and electric lights. He was raised in Chicago and lived in the area from 1937-2005. He was employed by Cargill Inc. for 41 years loading and unloading ships, trucks and trains. He married his first wife, Lenore Thompkins, in 1950 and raised a family in South Chicago. He married his 2nd wife Sandra Barton in 1972 and raised a family in Calumet City. For many years he was a band leader for The Sounds Of Country. He sang lead and played the guitar and fiddle. He had a great love for music, traveling, fishing, and hunting. In 2005, James moved back to Tennessee where he quietly spent his last years playing music and spending time with family and friends he so dearly loved. He is survived by his siblings, Ernest Barton (Ruth), Clifford Barton (Neva), Margaret Barton, Larry Barton (Darlene) and Jeff Andrus (Donna). His children and step children, Pamela Wilson (Mike), Sandra Harvey (Walter), Linda Deskins (Brad), Sandra White (Rodney), Michael Petersen and Jamie Skripac (Justin). He had many beautiful grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings Dorothy, Benny, and Phillip Barton, wife Sandra Barton, mother and father Clifford and Mabel Barton. Friends are invited to meet with the family on Tuesday, January 28 from 3 PM until 8 PM at LaHAYNE FUNERAL HOME, 6955 Southeastern Ave., Hammond, IN. Funeral Service Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 11 AM at LaHAYNE FUNERAL HOME. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Hammond. There will also be a visitation and service on Saturday, January 25 from 1 PM until 3 PM at Ziegler Funeral Home in Athens, Tennessee. For further information regarding services, please contact LaHAYNE FUNERAL HOME at 219/ 845-3600.