James Gentry

James E. (Jim) Gentry passed away Monday, March 1, 2010. He was born in Minneapolis, MN, January 13, 1945, the youngest child of James and Thirza Gentry. He started his career at the Dayton-Hudson Corporation (now Target Corporation) in Minneapolis before moving to Kansas City in 1976 as director of Multimedia Forum, a division of Hallmark Cards. In the early 1980’s, Jim shifted his attention to Hollywood where he created television programming for Johnny Carson Productions before returning to Kansas City. He founded Newsline, Inc., a video production company that specialized in producing daily television programming at national medical association conventions. In later years he provided media training to a number of Fortune 500 corporations and to the federal government. Jim was pre-deceased by his parents and his two sisters, Sue and Mary Gentry. He is survived by his wife, Diane Gentry; his three children, Chris (Christy) Gentry of St. Louis, MO, Lisa (Jim) Hallam of Springfield, MO, and Emily (Bob) Kimes of St. Louis, MO; his two step-sons, Mike Perry of Brooklyn, NY and Chris Perry of Houston, TX; and his former wife, Carol Gentry-Brewer of Weatherby Lake, MO. He also leaves behind six grandchildren: Adam and Holly Hallam; and Lauren, Mallory, Kelsey, and Jenna Kimes.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 5th at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue. Visitation will be from 2-3:00 p.m. Friday at the chapel prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.

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