Rev. Jim Dillow

Rev. Jim Dillow

Rev. Jim Dillow, 70, of Fort Scott, and former Pastor of the Parsons Church of the Nazarene, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 1:05 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan.

He was born Aug. 25, 1947 at Chanute, Kan., to Harold and Alma (Moore) Dillow. He grew up and attended schools in Chanute and graduated from Chanute High School in 1965. Following high school, Jim attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma where he graduated in 1970.

Jim was united in marriage to Susan J. Fox on May 31, 1969. Following marriage, a life of ministry began. From 1969 to 1972, he first served as an associate pastor at the Church of the Nazarene in Carnegie, Okla. In 1972, Jim and Susan moved to Independence, Kan., where he served as associate pastor from 1972 to 1974. They then moved to Bel Aire, Kan., where he served as pastor from 1974 to 1976 and then from 1976 to 1980 at the Church of the Nazarene in Iola, Kan. In 1980, Jim and Susan moved to Topeka, Kan., where he served as pastor of the Oakland Church of the Nazarene until 1988. In 1988, Pastor Jim, Susan and their sons, Jeff and Tim moved to Parsons where he served as pastor from 1988 until 2000. In 2000, he became the district superintendent of the Joplin District Church of the Nazarene and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2013. Following his retirement, Jim served as interim pastor for various churches in the Joplin District. He was currently serving as interim pastor at his former church in Parsons and preached his last sermon there on Christmas Eve. Over the years, Jim had also been an active supporter of the MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe and had served as a member of the board of trustees of the university from 1996 until 2013. On May 4, 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Jim was an avid ballpoint pen collector and had thousands that he had collected over the years. He loved fishing and spending time with his family, especially his six grandchildren. Jim was very musical and enjoyed listening to music of all kinds. Most recently, Pastor Jim and Susan had moved to Fort Scott where they were currently members of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Susan; two sons, Jeff Dillow and his wife, Moriah, of Fort Scott, Kan., and Tim Dillow and his wife, Danae, of Troy, Mo.; six grandchildren, Camden, Lane, Keegan, Kinley, Jace and Ava; one brother, Ernie Dillow and his wife, Judy, of Chanute, Kan.; as well as one sister, Shirley Showalter and her husband, Butch, of Chanute, Kan.

Funeral services for Pastor Jim will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 at the Parsons Church of the Nazarene. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene/TFO. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, 405 Main St., P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.