James Patrick Kizer

July 7, 2017

LTCOL, USMC (Retired) James Patrick Kizer, 82, of Atmore died Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola, Florida.

LTCOL. Kizer was born in Monroeville, Alabama on September 20, 1934 to the late Ruby Lee McCawley Kizer and James Henry Kizer. The family moved from Monroeville to Atmore, Alabama when he was a child. The family remained in Atmore and Jim attended elementary and high school in Atmore. He is a graduate of Auburn University where he earned a BS degree in Agriculture and later earned an MBA from Faulkner University.

On September 26, 1955, LTCOL. Kizer began his career in the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant and, following graduation from Officer Candidate School, Quantico, VA, in January, 1956, he entered flight school at NAS Pensacola. LTCOL. Kizer’s service in the Marines included numerous duty stations and assignments. Most notably, In April, 1962, Capt. Kizer served in the first Marine squadron, HMM-362, deployed to Soc Trang Airbase, Vietnam. In April, 1975, LTCOL. Kizer was the Commanding Officer of HMM-165, where he and his squadron developed the plan to evacuate Saigon and commanded the aircraft during the evacuation. LTCOL. Kizer served as a Marine Aviator for 23 years, retiring in August, 1978. His distinguished career included many awards for service and gallantry, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Marine Corps Air medal with 32 awards, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

LTCOL. Kizer was preceded in death by his wife Marie Stephany McGonnell Kizer. Survivors include two sons, James P. Kizer Jr. and wife, Beth, of Navarre, Fla. and Steven J. Kizer and wife, Michelle, of Gulf Shores; one daughter, Stephany M. Peterson and husband, David, of Perdido Key, Florida; four grandsons, James Garrett Kizer, Patrick Casey Byers, Bradley Joseph Byers and Spencer Joseph Kizer.

Rite of Christian Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. July 7, 2017 from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Father Milsted officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

The family request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either St. Jude’s Children Research Center, P.O. Box 1999 Memphis, Tenn. 38101 or to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org).

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of all arrangements.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries