Jim M. Pettijohn, 71, died December 31, 2009 at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson, Kansas. He was born December 5, 1938 at Sterling, Kansas, the son of Murel and Cecile (Swan) Pettijohn. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1972 coming from Plainville, Kansas. Mr. Pettijohn was an oilfield driller, working for Blue Goose Drilling, Inc. and Pickrell Drilling, retiring in 1998. In January of 1957 he married Carol Brungardt at San Diego, California. They divorced. On October 19, 1973, he married Wilma Myers at Great Bend, Kansas. He was a member of First Street Church of God, Hoisington, Kansas. Mr. Pettijohn is survived by his wife, Wilma Pettijohn, of the home; five sons, Robert Pettijohn and wife, Jane; Mike Pettijohn; and Steve Pettijohn and wife, Melody, all of Arvada, Colorado; C. J. Shryock and Josh Pettijohn, Great Bend, Kansas; two daughters, Judy Gorden and husband, Jeff, Wichita, Kansas; Takowa Pettijohn, Great Bend; sister, Erma Carmichael, Plainville, Kansas; sixteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Paul Shryock; one daughter, Shrya Palacio, and one brother, Richard Pettijohn. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at Bryant Funeral Home with the Reverend Dick Ogle officiating. Interment will be at Golden Belt Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials have been suggested to CKMC Foundation for the benefit of Heartland Cancer Center, in care of the funeral home.