Obituary of James Vee Lofton

James Vee Lofton Sr., age 76, passed away April 16, 2017, at the Lehigh Acres Hope Hospice facility. Born December 24, 1940, in Fort Myers Lee Memorial Hospital, Jimmy Vee is the son of the late James Vivian Lofton and the late Ida Corine Forrey Lofton Kirby. A five generation LaBelle native, a lifetime resident of Hendry County Jimmy Vee and his dad surveyed along most of the sectional boundary lines located within Hendry, Lee and Collier Counties over many years, including extensive boundary surveys on Marco Island, oil well fields located in Felda, and in the Everglades. Before becoming sick, Jimmy Vee, also known as Pa, was an avid Hunter and fisherman and could be found in the early days of his youth raising and training bird dogs, hunting quail, dove, turkey and fishing on Lake Okeechobee, Pine Island or in the 10,000 Island with little Vee, and his close network of friends over the years and his little hunting and fishing partner, Max Thomas. The rest of the time Pa could be found in the woods, relaxing, hunting, and telling lots of old time woods and fishing stories with the best of friends and family members reminiscing the good-ole days solving most the world's problems around the camp fire. After graduating from LaBelle High School, Class of 1959. Jimmy, joined the U.S. Army 97th Engineering Battalion (Construction), where he further broadened his surveying knowledge. After serving his country, he returned home from France in 1963 and honorably discharged in 1965. He continued to work as a land surveyor employed with Johnson Engineering founded in 1946 and starting a young family in Hendry County. In 2002, he retired from Johnson Engineering Inc. with 40 years of land surveying services. Jimmy is preceded in death by his father James Vivian Lofton, mother Ida Corine Forrey Lofton Kirby and step father Henry Robert Kirby. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Martha Jo Moody Lofton; only child son, James Vee Lofton Jr. (Laura) and three grandchildren: Maura Lindsay, Madelyon Rae, and Max Thomas Lofton. He is survived by his brother Wayne Allen Lofton (Suzanne), his sister Martha Jayne Lofton Gourley. Jimmy Vee leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A celebration of Jimmy's life will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church of LaBelle, 330 North Main Street, LaBelle Florida with Rev. Frank Deerey and Pastor Preston Long officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Lehigh Acres Hope Hospice of Lee County, 1201 Wings Way, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936, or First Baptist Church of LaBelle, 330 North Main Street, LaBelle Florida 33935 in memory of James Vee Lofton Sr. Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home – LaBelle