03-12-2010 A TRULY UNIQUE PERSON PASSES: JIM GENTRY When someone like Jim Gentry enters your life you are never quite the same after it. Unfortunately, we have just learned of his passing and offer our prayers and condolences to his loving family. A former Bottom Line client, our relationship turned into a friendship. Jim was in TV production and may have been the most creative person we have ever encountered. He had worked in Hollywood and often said that he was responsible for the creation of the "Alf" character that was turned into a successful TV series. He may have very likely created Alf because Jim was extremely creative, but not necessarily a great businessman. "Though most of Kansas City had not heard of Jim, his creations certainly impacted many people," says Barry Morris, who worked at FOX4 and with Gentry in his Newsline video production venture. "Jim was probably the most creative person I have known and I am better at what I do because of the things I learned from him." There are a lot of indivuals who felt that way about Jim. He will be missed.
JAMES EDWARD GENTRY James E. (Jim) Gentry passed away Monday, March 1, 2010. He was born in Minneapolis, MN, January 13, 1945, the youngest child of James and Thirza Gentry. He started his career at the Dayton- Hudson Corporation (now Target Corporation) in Minneapolis before moving to Kansas City in 1976 as director of Multimedia Forum, a division of Hallmark Cards. In the early 1980's, Jim shifted his attention to Hollywood, where he created television programming for Johnny Carson Productions before returning to Kansas City. He founded Newsline, Inc., a video production company that specialized in producing daily television programming at national medical association conventions. In later years, he provided media training to a number of Fortune 500 corporations and to the federal government. Jim was pre-deceased by his parents, and his two sisters, Sue and Mary Gentry. He is survived by his wife, Diane Gentry; his three children, Chris (Christy) Gentry of St. Louis, MO, Lisa (Jim) Hallam of Springfield, MO, and Emily (Bob) Kimes of St. Louis, MO; his two step-sons, Mike Perry of Brooklyn, NY, and Chris Perry of Houston, TX; and his former wife, Carol Gentry-Brewer, of Weatherby Lake, MO. He also leaves behind six grandchildren: Adam and Holly Hallam; and Lauren, Mallory, Kelsey, and Jenna Kimes. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, March 5, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue. Visitation will be from 2-3 p.m., Friday, at the chapel prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care. (Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210; (913) 451- 1860.) Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel. com.
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