James Francis "Jim" Heaton, 83, died October 10, 2010 at Wichita Specialty Hospital, Wichita, Kansas. He was born December 12, 1926 at Great Bend, Kansas, the son of Clarence F. and Pearl (Gill) Heaton. James F. Heaton was a lifelong resident of Great Bend. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1945 and from Kansas State University in 1949. While attending KSU, he met Jo Ann Jeffries, and they were married on May 21, 1950 at All Faiths Chapel, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Mr. Heaton was news director for KVGB-AM, Great Bend, from 1949 to 1969, was Director of Public Information and Broadcasting Instructor for Barton Community College from 1969 to 1970, and was vice president of Marketing for Security State Bank from 1970 to 1989. Dedicated to serving his community, Mr. Heaton was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he sang in the chancel choir from 1943 to 1999; Great Bend Rotary Club; and was a former member of the board of directors of the Kansas Association of School Boards, past chairman of the board of Great Bend Chamber of Commerce; past president of Unified School District 428 Board of Education; past president of Great Bend Recreation Commission and past president of the Great Bend Library Board. He was a former member of the boards of directors of the Barton County Community College Board of Trustees, Central Kansas Medical Center, and Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice. Mr. and Mrs. Heaton were recipients of the Distinguished Service Award at Barton Community College in 1995. They also served as back-up grandparents for Barton womens basketball and volleyball players from 1982 to 1998. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Mr. Heaton is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Heaton; one son, David Heaton, Tampa, Florida; one daughter, Jane Rees and husband Doug, Colorado Springs, Colorado; two grandchildren: Mindi (Rees) Salamon and husband Jon and Evan Rees and wife Megan; and two great-grandchildren: Tatum Elizabeth Salamon and Brandon Salamon. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 14, 2010 at First United Methodist Church, Great Bend. The Reverend Tom Sheldon will officiate. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials in Mr. Heaton's name have been established with First United Methodist Church or Barton Community College Foundation, in care of the funeral home.