James Timberlake

November 26, 1943 - January 8, 2013

James "Jim Silverlake" Timberlake, 69, Medora, passed away at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at Hoosier Christian Village, Brownstown. James was of the Methodist faith. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967. He retired after working as an elephant handler and trainer and a circus performer. He was a graduate of Clearspring High School. He was owner of Lewis Brothers Circus, Barnes and Daily Circus and also traveled with many other circuses. During his last circus years, from 1989 to 1999, he worked with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus taking care of the elephant known as King Tusk. Born on Nov. 26, 1943, in Brownstown, he was the son of Melvin and Josephine Fisher Timberlake, both of whom preceded him in death. On Sept. 8, 1967, in Lexington, S.C., he married Marlyn Hochstetler. Survivors include two sons, A. Michael (Mitzi) Timberlake, Brownstown, and Bradley W. (Amy) Timberlake, Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, Marcus Timberlake, Nashville, and Melvin Timberlake Jr., Kingman, Kan.; one sister, Myrna Ratcliff, Medora; and two grandchildren, Zachary Timberlake and Meagan Timberlake. A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Zion United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the International Elephant Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation or Mount Zion United Methodist Church. Arrangements were handled by Spurgeon Funeral Home Inc., Brownstown.