Mr. James Edward Durr of Jefferson died on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast in Concord. He was 79.

Mr. Durr was born on Aug. 25, 1934, in Otoe County, Neb., to Hubert Joseph and Bertha Barbara Volkmer Durr.

He was a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and began his professional career by serving as an accountant at Veterans Administration hospitals across the nation. In 1983, he and his family relocated to Jefferson where he worked for the Appalachian Regional Library as the finance director and also in the circulations department until his retirement in 1996.

In addition to his devotion to the Nebraska Cornhuskers college football team, Mr. Durr was an enthusiastic musician, accomplished in both the piano and organ. He will be remembered for his love of music which he shared with the congregation of St. Francis of Assisi in Jefferson, serving as the church organist for 25 years.

Mr. Durr is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patsy Richardson Durr of the home; one son, Mark Durr of Jefferson; four daughters: Barbara Durr (Robert) Weaver of Jefferson, Rebecca Durr (Paul) Moffett of Davidson, Melissa Durr (Fred Jr.) Shulski of Goodyear, Ariz., and Martha Durr (John) Shulski of Lincoln, Neb.; one sister, Mary Durr (Leonard) Kaiser of Nebraska City, Neb.; eight grandchildren: Bryan Bell, Maggie Moffett, Janey Moffett, Hannah Shulski, Paul Shulski, Claire Shulski, Dmitri Shulski and Edmund Shulski.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Durr was predeceased by one brother, Kermit Durr; and one sister, Dorothy Durr Sullivan.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father David Brzoska at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, followed by a burial service in the Jefferson City Cemetery and a meal in the church hall. The family will receive friends the evening before from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at Badger Funeral Home in West Jefferson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the St. Francis of Assisi Building Fund, P.O. Box 1, Jefferson, NC 28640.

Words of comfort and remembrance may be viewed or sent to the family through the Badger Funeral Home website at www.badgerfuneralhome.com.