James "Jim" Earl Cuff, age 98 of Collinsville, IL, born March 9, 1927 in Collinsville, IL, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025 in his home at Stillwater Senior Living in Edwardsville, IL surrounded by his loving family.

Jim's love for the game of baseball started at an early age. He played in any pickup game he could find and developed skills that would later stand out as he entered high school. Upon graduating high school in 1945, he had the option to continue playing baseball at the college level or to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals organization to play ball in the Cardinals minor league system. While he didn't make it to major leagues, he enjoyed playing in the minor leagues with the Cardinal organization for 3 ½ years.

After leaving the Cardinals organization, he worked general maintenance jobs with Ramapo Ajax Manufacturing Company (American Brake Shoe Company), New York Central Railroad, Dow Chemical Corporation, and then started as a custodian for Collinsville School District in 1958 and worked his way up to maintenance supervisor for the district before retiring in 1990.

Jim only had one sister but grew up with many cousins in the immediate area. Family was everything to Jim.  On October 7, 1949, he married Shirley Mae Applegett with whom he had six children.  They were together for 74 years until her passing in April of 2024.

Not surprisingly, Jim's hobbies always revolved around sports. As a young boy and teenager, he played basketball. As an adult he took on the game of golf and enjoyed it into retirement. He was an avid Collinsville Kahok basketball fan. As his physical limitations grew, you could find him most days in his recliner watching a football, basketball or a baseball game.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marie (nee Tucker) Cuff; his wife, Shirley (nee Applegate) Cuff; a sister, Jeanette Soles; and a granddaughter, Amanda Cuff.

Surviving are his three sons: James (Barbara) Cuff, Tim (Martha) Cuff and Mark Cuff; three daughters:  Lynne (Jim) Kerfoot, Jayne (Steve) Gaumer, and Barb (Connie) Cuff Price; 15 grandchildren:  Jimmy Cuff, Sara Collier, JR Kerfoot, Jeremy Kerfoot, Joe Kerfoot, Jacob Cuff, Lucas Cuff, Marcus Cuff, David Snodgrass, Erin Strole, Michael Gaumer, Elizabeth Gaumer, Nicholas Cuff Price and Joshua Cuff Price; 23 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 3 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, 2025 and 10 – 11 a.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025 at Meadow Heights Baptist Church in Collinsville.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday with Dr. James Kim, Rev. Jim Robinson, and Rev. Roger Wright officiating.  Burial will be in Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery, Collinsville.

Memorials are suggested to Meadow Heights Baptist Church or Family Hospice of Belleville and will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to Barry Wilson Funeral Home, 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.