James Hyden

James Virgil Hyden, 86 years, of Monroe, MI went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 27, 2012 at Magnum Care of Monroe. Born January 15, 1926 in Union County, Tennessee, James was the son of late William and Elizabeth (Hammon) Hyden. James moved to Monroe in the 1940’s. James served his country honorably and proudly as a Private First Class in the US Army from April 17, 1944 to May 20, 1946. For his heroism, James received the following: EAME Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Citation. On May 12, 1962 James married his beloved wife Linda J. Braden in Monroe. For 43 years James worked as a Machinist for Union Camp Paper Company from which he retired in 1989. James was a member of Monroe Primitive Baptist Church and was an avid outdoorsman where he enjoyed fishing and hunting. James also enjoyed carpentry and built bird houses and squirrel feeders. He loved passing the time by feeding the neighborhood squirrels. Most of all James enjoyed being with his family. James is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, of 49 years; four loving daughters: Sheila Gross of Monroe, Terri Messer of Taylor, MI, Rhonda (Charles) Grimm of Perrysburg, OH, and Tracie (Scott) Leach of Kendallville, IN; eight cherished grandchildren: Daniel, Melanie, Matthew, Nathaniel, Russell, Jessica, Leana and Lindsey; three treasured great grandchildren: Hayden, Maddison, and Raelyn; two brothers: Robert (Eliza) Hyden and Frank Hyden both of Monroe, and a sister Mary Lee West of Cumberland Gap, TN. In addition to his parents James was preceded in death by three sisters: Marlene Hyden, Flossie Williford and Esther Hatfield and a brother Herman Hyden. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2-8 PM in the Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., in Monroe, where funeral services celebrating his life will be held on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park where the VFW Post 1138 will conduct military honors. Memorial contributions are suggested to Monroe Primitive Baptist Church.