James Sterling Viar

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Mr. James Sterling Viar, 86, of Memphis, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Methodist University Hospital.

Mr. Viar was involved in all aspects of the National Association of Cosmetology for his entire professional life. He was a longtime trustee of the Tennessee Cosmetology Association, as well as trustee of the Joseph Weir Trust, a trust devoted to providing educational financial assistance in the cosmetology field. He led seminars and conducted demonstrations at conventions and conferences. He owned and operated Coiffures by James on Monroe Avenue in Memphis for more than 30 years. His clients came from all over the tri-state area. He was a lover of the arts and supported institutions such as the Dixon Art Gallery and the Brooks Museum.

He leaves his brother, Howard Viar, and his wife, Maude, of Savannah, Ga.;

Three nieces, Kay Viar and Linda Ivanowski of Savannah, Ga., and Harriet Murphy and her husband, Ron, of Bartlett, Tenn.; and

A cousin, Rita Koeppen of Memphis.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in Cobb Funeral Home Chapel in Blytheville. The family will receive visitors 2:30 until time for services. Burial will follow in Little Prairie Cemetery in Caruthersville, Mo.

There will be a memorial service in Memphis, which will be announced sometime in the next two to three weeks, so that his many friends in the Memphis area may have a chance to visit and recall their long association with Mr. Viar. Condolences may be emailed to cobbfuneralhome@sbcglobal.net