James E. Christy, 85, of Ottumwa, died at 6:53 p.m. November 5, 2020 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. He was born August 12, 1935 in Ottumwa to Earl E. and Claudine King Christy. Jim married Margaret Joanne Abernathy on April 14, 1956 and she preceded him in death on September 17, 2004. He married Beverly Garrison Steele on February 5, 2005. A 1953 graduate of Ottumwa High School, Jim attended Iowa State University. He worked in scheduling at John Deere Ottumwa Works retiring in June 1989. Jim was a member of Ottumwa Baptist Temple. He was a commissioner for fast pitch softball and coached boys and girls basketball at Bible Baptist Christian School. Jim enjoyed watching sports, especially NASCAR and was an Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinal fan. Jim enjoyed riding his bicycle, especially on RAGBRI. Surviving is his wife, Beverly; his sons, Jay Christy of Newton and Joe (Renae) Christy of Marion; daughter-in-law, Shelly Christy of Marion; step-children, Dale (Patty) Steele, Sheri (Bob) Jones and Tori (Matt) Pringle; 14 grandchildren, Adam (Abby) Christy, Derek Christy, Bridget (Paul) Rosales, Larkin Christy, Jaylee Christy, Melia (Josh) Ortberg, Melissa Christy, Chad (Charity) Songer, Heather Bolin, Suzy (Jason) Crosby, Abby Steele, Mariel (Chad) Owen, Ellie Pringle, Max (Ashley) Pringle; 22 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Judy (David) Ortega of Apache Junction, AZ and Dick (Janeane) Christy of Ottumwa; sisters-in-law, Linda Christy of Des Moines, M. Jeanne Ornduff of Olympia, WA and M. Janece (Jim) Patrice of Tigard, OR. He was preceded in death by his son, Jerry Christy; his siblings, Patricia “Paddy” Bauman, Connie Wharton and Bob Christy. Private graveside services and burial will be held at Batavia Cemetery with Pastor Tom Shipley officiating. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rfh-ia.com. For those not able to be in attendance you may watch live at 3:30 p.m. Thursday November 12th on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Memorials may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation at https://support.pkdcure.org/jerrychristy Reece Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.