James Arthur “Weasel” Kingery, 76, of Flora, received his call home to be with his Lord and Savior, Sunday, February 15, 2026 in Lafayette, Indiana. Jim was born on September 20, 1949, in Lafayette, Indiana to the late Phillip I. and Iona Henderson Kingery.

Jim was a Musician, Former U.S. Marine (Vietnam Veteran), Truck Driver, Security Guard and many other jobs to support his musical aspirations. Jim attended Cutler School, Stockwell School, Carroll High School, and Delphi Community High School. Jim grew up in Cutler, Indiana where he was a member of the Cutler Presbyterian Church and participated in the Youth Choir with his sister, Peggy. He was also active in the Boy Scouts and traveled with his troop to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Known for his sleepwalking, he once wandered more than a mile from camp to the totems in the middle of the night! He also enjoyed attending scouting jamborees at Adams Mill. He loved basketball and played with skill and enthusiasm, earning the nickname “Weasel” for his quickness and ability to steal the ball. Peggy liked to tease that the name came from her big brother’s talent for “weaseling out of things,” and the nickname stayed with him throughout his life. Jim and Peggy were especially close. When she once wanted a particular leaf from the catalpa tree in their yard, he used the swing to reach it, fell, and fractured his elbow yet still managed to save the leaf in perfect condition. He had many friends and often found himself in the middle of youthful mischief, including the time he was accidentally shot in the neck with a BB gun. Jim attended school in Cutler until it closed, then continued at Carroll County High School. The family later moved to a farm near Stockwell for a year before returning briefly to Cutler and eventually settled in Delphi, where he completed high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served two tours in Vietnam. Upon returning home, he took a taxi from the Indianapolis airport and arrived in Delphi in the early hours of the morning to surprise his family. He was honorably discharged as a Lance Corporal. In the 1990s, he visited his sister Debbie in Washington, D.C., and stood in awe before the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, deeply moved by the 58,318 names etched in granite — an experience he spoke of often. Music and art were lifelong passions for Jim, especially music. His grandfather bought a piano so he and Peggy could take lessons, and Jim later taught himself guitar by watching family and friends jam in their dining room in the early 1950s. Though only four years old, the acoustic guitars were huge compared to his own size, but he was determined to play anything he could get his hands on. As he grew, he began writing his own songs — good, bad, or indifferent, it all seemed to come together and he never stopped writing. Beginning in the late 1960s, he performed with several bands, usually playing bass guitar. He recorded a number of his songs, which can be found at reverbnation.com/jimweaselkingery/songs. Jim lived and worked in several states, including Colorado, Arizona, and Tennessee, while pursuing his musical dreams. He spent many years as a truck driver and later held his final position at Indiana Packers before retiring.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Peggy Ruckdeschel; and his former wife, Linda Masterson.

He is survived by his sister, Debra Gaul (Jon) of South Bend, IN; his brother, Tim Kingery (Darlene) of Delphi, IN; his daughter, Tracie Marie Cooper (Brandon) of North Webster, IN; as well as a nephew, several nieces, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Kingery Family invite friends to gather Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Wheeler Family Funeral Home-Baker Chapel, 204 S. Center Street, Flora, IN 46929 from 11:00am until 1:00pm. Celebration of Jim’s Life will begin at 1:00pm with Pastor Tim Stewart officiating. Burial will follow at Ball Hill Cemetery, near Cutler. Memorials may be made in Jim’s memory to the Cutler Presbyterian Church or charity of choice.