James LeRoy Perdue, III, 36

James died Sunday, August 16, 2026. Funeral services are 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at the Marty Community Center in Marty. Burial is in St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery in Marty. Wake services will be 7:30 PM, Tuesday at the Marty Community Center.

Written by his children Shania and Moses

James L. Perdue was born April 26, 1990 in Yankton, to his mother Melissa Zephier Cournoyer and his father James Leroy Perdue II. He had two children, Shania James Perdue and Moses James Perdue with their mother, Dawn Marie McBride. James also helped raise Moses and Shania’s half siblings Robbie McBride and Noah McBride. From now on we will be raised by our grandparents, Earl R. Cournoyer and James’ mother Melissa Zephier Cournoyer.

James always had a sense of humor that made everyone laugh whenever he’d walk into a room. He was a strong man who loved to stay busy working on his cars, he even owned his own roofing company called J.P. Roofing. Anytime he could be outside doing something he would. He liked riding mini bikes, four wheelers, and dirt bikes with his kids.

A second mom to James was aunt/mom Jean Zephier.

When James was in grade school his teacher said that all the kids could bring a song to school so, he ended up playing “Baby Got Back” by Sir-Mix-Al-Lot, once the teacher started hearing the lyrics she said, “No, James we can’t have this one.”

Once when James was at uncle Mike’s and he was asleep, he took the powder detergent and put it in his ears and ran upstairs! In general he was always pulling pranks on his cousin and other people.

James had a lot of family including his sister Antoinette & Joey Cournoyer and their children Sydney, Carter, Joey Jr., and Brady. Brady’s daughter as well Rynlee Rose (only granddaughter). Kelly Zephier was like a sister/cousin to James.

He had had a lot of aunts and uncles: Altine + Lee and family, David Zephier-family,

Pam Zephier-family, Mary Zephier-family, Kim Zephier-family, Dean and Andy Zephier (deceased), Jane Zephier- family, Jean Zephier- family,

Blanche Zephier-family, Mike Zephier-family, Georgiana + Alan (Rid)-family, Dawn Zephier (deceased), and Augustina Zephier-family.