Jimmie Richard Shehi was born on November 6, 1928, to Merritt and Edith Shehi. He was born at his parent's home near Bristow, Oklahoma. His parents moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma when Jim was about twelve years old, and he lived there until he graduated from high school and joined the United States Navy in June 1946. He was united in marriage with Rowena Darleene Hackett in Shawnee in 1951.

He served on active duty in the Navy from 1946 to 1965, then in the Navy Fleet Reserve until his retirement in 1975. Jim served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His career took him across the country and around the world. Boot camp in San Diego, California; assigned to the amphibious landing ship U.S.S. Fort Mandan in Newport, Rhode Island traveling to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Trinidad, British West Indies, Virgin Islands, Europe, Oslo Norway, Edinburgh Scotland, Portsmouth England, Hong Kong, Kowloon China (where he spent some time in the backroom of the restaurant where the Flying Tigers of WWII hung out). From China, he headed to Japan and Korea, where he was stationed on the USS Wantuck. He was then stationed in San Diego, CA. The Navy took Jim and his family across the United States to Norfolk, Virginia, back to California and then the Philippine Islands.

He retired with the ranking of Master Chief Petty Officer.

He entered the Federal Bureau of Prisons service in 1966 at El Reno, Oklahoma. His career with the Bureau moved the family from Oklahoma to Texarkana, Texas, Ashland, Kentucky and then to Springfield, Missouri.  At the time of his retirement in 1983, he was the Human Resources Director at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.

He is survived by his wife Darleene; daughters and sons-in-law: Judy and Paul Mammorella, Janet and John Furneaux and Sandy and Wade Stone, all of Springfield, Missouri; grandsons Tyler Matlock, Austin (Mindi) Matlock of Springfield and Stuart (Jenni) Stone of Locust Grove, Virginia; great grandchildren James, Patrick and Isabella Matlock, Makenzie, Grady and Gracelyn Stone and numerous relatives and special friends.

Jim loved to travel, and from 1983 to 2009, he and Darleene spent a great deal of their time in their travel trailer on the road. They traveled to all the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and most of the Canadian provinces. The primary focus of his life was his wife and daughters and their families. He was especially proud of his service to his country in the United States Navy. He was very proud to have been on the first Honor Flight of the Ozarks.

A Visitation will be held Friday, June 27, 2025, from 11-11:30am with a Memorial Service directly following at Graceway Baptist Church, 5010 S Farm Road 135, Springfield, MO 65810. Graveside Services will be held at 2pm that day at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery 5201 S. Southwood St Springfield, MO 65804.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services of Springfield, MO.

Jim was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, Springfield, Missouri. Memorials may be made to Messiah Piecemakers, Messiah Lutheran Church, 925 E. Seminole St.; Springfield, MO 65807.