James West Hart

James W. Hart, 83, of Waterloo, died Wednesday evening, September 3, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Itta Bena, MS, on October 11, 1941, the son of Robert Hart and Susie Walls Hart. James retired from Viking Pump after 37 years, where he worked as a molder. He married Bettie Scott, and the couple was blessed with seven children. Bettie died in 2007, and James then married Glory Dickens on February 26, 2025. He was a member of Community Southern Baptist Church in Waterloo.

James is remembered as a loving, kind, Christian man who was a quiet jokester, but could give you crap if he wanted to. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and being outside. James loved his family and music, including R&B, jazz, Gospel, and the blues. He sang in the church choir in his earlier years. James especially enjoyed going to church every Sunday. He enjoyed baking and grilling and once passed off BBQ raccoon to his kids. James didn’t mind working on things, but it frequently turned out worse than when he started, like the time he painted a car with house paint. James will be deeply missed.

James is survived by his wife, Glory, of Waterloo; children JoAnn (James) Walls of Greenwood, MS, Sonja “Nae” Hart, Tonja “Tinky” Hart, Marilyn (Milton Jr.) Byrd, all of Waterloo, Jimmy (Jill) Hart of West Des Moines, and Darius (Sunni) Hart of Elk Run Heights; bonus children LaGuanda (Damien) McMullen and Treymone (Lorrice) Thomas, both of Waterloo and Shameea Thomas of Des Moines; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; siblings Willie Hart of Chicago, Mae Smith of Harvey, IL, Joe (Dorothy Jean) Hart of Maywood, IL, Edith (Alvin) McFarland of Alsip, IL, and Frankie (Anthony) Knox of Dalton, IL, and many other family and friends. He was preceded by his first wife, Bettie, daughter Patrice Hart, granddaughter Jayda Hart, and brothers Robert, Richard, and Alan Hart.

Services will be Friday, September 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at Community Southern Baptist Church, 522 Anthony St., Waterloo, with a time of visitation from 10:00 AM until the service time. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorial contributions should be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.