Obituary of James Kent Carmichael

James “Jim” Kent Carmichael, age 77, of Oxford, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at his home.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.

Born on August 8, 1948 in Laurens, Iowa, Jim was the son of Eldon and Beulah (Freeman) Carmichael.  He graduated from Highland High School in Riverside in 1966.  Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War.

Jim drove a semi-truck for 26 years, hauling gasoline.  His CB radio handle was “Blue Boy”.  He was united in marriage to Linda Finley on September 1, 1988, in Paducah, Kentucky. 

In his early years, Jim enjoyed bowling.  He was an outdoorsman, spending time hunting, fishing, and camping.  Jim enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Jim’s family includes his wife, Linda; children: Jamie (Sara) of Muscatine, Suzie Kazlauskas of West Branch, and Shannon Carmichael of Tipton; stepchildren: Genevieve Gunn of Blue Springs, MO, and Bret (Tammy) Bigley of Iowa City; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren;  a brother, Jerry (Judy) Carmichael of Washington; a sister-in-law, Lori Escher of Iowa City; a brother-in-law, Tracy (Julia) Finley of Iowa City and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Fred and Charlotte Finley; siblings: Dick Carmichael, Russell Carmichael, Phyllis Savage, Stanley Carmichael, and Raymond Carmichael; a son-in-law, Dalius Kazlauskas; and many aunts and uncles.