James Eldridge Branch, 86, of High Ridge, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at Arnold, Mo.

Born June 23, 1919, in Houston, Miss., he was a son of the late John Obie Branch and Sudie Ann Ruth Payne. On June 24, 1961, he married Vinita Payne who survives.

Other survivors include one daughter, Tammie Morris, of Arnold; three sisters, Lorene Johnson, of Malden, Mo., Verdell Newton, of St. Paul, Mo., and Maelene Nowlin, of Portageville, Mo.; three brothers, Amery Branch, of Malden, Mo., Charlie Branch, of O'Fallon, Mo., and Burt Branch, of Arnold, Mo.; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, James Richard and Woodrow Branch; and two sisters, Irene Smith and Adell Branch.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today, Thursday Feb. 9, at Bradshaw Funeral Home at Malden.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 10, at the First Assembly of God Church in Malden with the Revs. Cleo Payne and Monroe Johnson officiating.

Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery at Malden.