Shirley Eugene "Jake" Atkins "Precious memories, how they linger, how they touch my soul!" These words to an old gospel song hang in the air over the house of Shirley Eugene "Jake" Atkins this morning. At 11:55 on July 28th "Jake" Atkins succumbed to the illnesses that he had so valiantly fought for the past several years. The area has lost one of the most "colorful" characters of his era leaving behind many friends and acquaintances. Jake Atkins was born May 18, 1929 in Hallsville the son of Shirley and Elizabeth Marie (Kerns) Atkins.  He was predeceased by his father, mother, infant sister, Frances; brothers, Peyton and Jack Atkins; and infant daughter, Sondra.  He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jerolyn (Mooney) Atkins; three sons, William Joseph (Teresa), Randall (Lisa), Jason (Becky) all of Ross County; stepchildren, Craig Haskins of Cincinnati, Michelle King and Cindy (Jack) Mergo of Ross County.  Also surviving are brothers, Thomas (Bea) Breeden and Francis (Marsha) Breeden of Ross County. Several grandchildren and great grandchildren also survive. Jake graduated in 1947 from Centralia High School where he was an all-star athlete competing in track and field and basketball.  Jake was recently recognized in a Zane Trace basketball publication as one of the top five all time basketball players in the history of that school system.  After high school he played basketball in the Army and was a member of many of the top independent basketball teams in southeastern Ohio. After his playing days he was a basketball official for 25 years in the local area.  Jake was an avid Zane Trace basketball fan attending as many of the "mighty Pioneer" games as possible.  Beside sports Jake loved riding motorcycles and served several terms as President of the Chillicothe Motorcycle Club.  Jake served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. Jake retired as shipping foreman in 1991 from Mead Paper Corporation with 44 years of service.  For many years he had a real estate license and sold properties in the local area.  In his retirement years he loved camping with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 2nd. at the Hill Funeral Home in Kingston, Ohio with Pastor Clint Sheets, II officiating.  Interment will follow in the Hallsville Cemetery.  Friends may call at Hill's Thursday, August 1st from 4-8 p.m. and the day of the funeral from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Adena Hospice and/or American Kidney Association.  Online registry at hillfhkingston.com

Adena Hospice
2077 Western Ave, Chillicothe, OH 45601, Chillicothe OH 45601
Tel: 1-740-779-4663
Web: http://www.adena.org