James Alexander Givens

August 7, 1934 - September 26, 2019

James Alexander Givens of Saint Louis Missouri, passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at the age of 85. Jim was born August 7, 1934 to James Jackson and Audrey Caroline (nee' Long) Givens and raised in South St. Louis City. He and his younger brother, Edwin (Neil) attended Roosevelt High School, home of the Rough Riders. In 1955, he married the love of his life, Rose Marian Hoffman from Cape Girardeau, and together they raised four children, Patti, Nancee, Jim, and Bob. While working at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Jim earned his B.S. in Business at Washington University. With the majority of his time spent at Mallinckrodt, he also worked at Dumas-Wilson and Wallace Laboratories. Throughout his pharmaceutical career, he worked as a chemist, in Research and Development and production. After several transitions and relocations, Jim retired in 1999. He and Rose then moved to the warm and sunny climate of Fairhope, Alabama, near Gulf Shores. Jim and Rose enjoyed traveling, and Jim became actively involved in organizing trips for groups of fellow travelers. They visited Europe, the Mediterranean, Canada, and most of the United States. They enjoyed several cruises and passed through the Panama Canal. Jim was a loving and generous husband, father, and grandfather. He was very proud of his family and they were proud of him. He was genuinely interested in the lives of his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He never missed an opportunity to tell them he loved them. Jim will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Jim is survived by his children, Patricia (the late Bill) Kolich, Nancee (Vic) Gerson, Jim (Bev) Givens, and Bob (Kris) Givens; his grandchildren, Andrea (Scott) Bona, Jenisha (Omar) Jones, Christy (Christian) Overton, Ethan (Jeanine) Gerson, James Alexander (Meagan) Givens II, Bobby Givens, Zach (Jess) Kolich, Courtney Givens, Josh (Annie) Givens, and Caleb (Claire) Gerson; 13 great-grandchildren and two more on the way; his brother, Edwin "Neil" (Susie) Givens; his sister-in-law Marie Hoffman, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rose. Services for Jim will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim's memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital are greatly appreciated.