James Kennon Pike's Obituary
James Kennon Pike born June 29,1932 to Alfred Stanley Pike and Louise Bedford Applebury at home in Arlington, TN.
He died at his residence March 15, 2020 in Germantown, TN. He graduated from Tech High School and Memphis State University, where he received degrees in Business Administration and Bachelor of Law having previously graduated from the old Southern University College of Law night school before it merged with MSU in 1967.
During the Korean conflict, following his graduation from Tech, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Ordinance Division where he served with the first guided missile battalion in the development of the first Corporal missile in Ft. Bliss, TX.
While he was a student at MSU, his first accounting job was with a nearby public accounting firm owned by Larry and Dorothy Garrett who essentially hired him because of his "telephone voice", but later found out that he was the best hire they ever made. At the time of his graduation, he was recruited by the Kroger Company where he became the manager of the Memphis Accounting Division, and was later recruited by Dobbs Houses, Inc. where he was the Corporate Treasurer. Mr. Pike would later become the owner of Handy Mart Foods Convenience Stores of Memphis, Co-Owner of Tom Bell Chevrolet, Memphis, Tom Bell Toyota, Jackson, TN, and Tom Bell Leasing, Memphis from which he retired from in 2013.
Mr. Pike was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School, built children's class room furniture, served on several committees and as Treasurer. He was a Jack-of-all-trades, but he excelled in furniture and cabinet making, (some modeled after decorative accent pieces used in Dobbs House Restaurants). He was an avid and successful day trader.
He leaves his wife of 63 years, Floy Peek Pike, of Germantown, TN son, David, also of Germantown, TN, daughter, Phyllis of Eureka Springs, AR., a brother-in-law who was like a son, Ray Peek of Piperton, TN, and a sister, Joyce Pike Rakestraw, Bartlett, TN.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday March 18, 2020 from 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:30 PM in the Fireside Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery.
The Pike family asks that memorials be made to Memphis Union Mission, or Asbury United Methodist Church.
Please visit www.memorialparkonline.com to leave electronic condolences for the Pike family.
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