James "Jim" Dillender

1941 - 2025

James "Jim" Dillender

August 11, 1941 – August 15, 2025

James "Jim" Floyd Dillender passed away surrounded by family on August 15, 2025. He was born on August 11, 1941 in Louisiana, Missouri. He is preceded in death by his parents Leroy and Eleanor Dillender and daughter Lori Mayfield. He is survived by his nephew Danny (Stacy) Turiello, nieces Sherri (Paul) Thompson and Lisa Turiello, brother-in-law Buddy (Debra) Turiello, sister-in-law Linda Turiello, granddaughter, Jamie Mayfield (Cody), and three great-grandchildren.

Jim moved with his family to Redwood City from Louisiana, Missouri in 1957 when he was 16 years old. He began working as a handsome young barber and maintained a beautiful head of hair until the day of his passing. In his early 20s, he began working as a roofing contractor in the Bay Area until a trip to visit his brother in law in Grass Valley caused him to "just fall in love" with Nevada County. In 1981, Jim built his home in Grass Valley where he resided for many years. In the early 1980s, Jim felt he could provide Nevada County with an even greater service by running his own roofing company, Grass Valley Roofing Company, which he successfully operated until his retirement at the age of 58 in 1999. Jim spent the better part of 25+ years enjoying his retirement on the Yuba River.

Jim lived in the home he built until August of 2022 when he moved to the "penthouse suite" on the 5th floor of the Bret Harte Hotel on Main Street in Grass Valley. He was very proud of his view of all the beautiful trees overlooking downtown Grass Valley and highway 49. Two years later, with declining health, he moved to Sierra View Senior Living in Grass Valley. He spent his last 13 months of life enjoying his days with the beautiful and caring staff of Sierra View. Jim's favorite thing to do was to spend time with his "favorite nephew Danny" by going to the local donut shop where they would people watch and enjoy a donut and coffee together. If not at the donut shop, they would spend time together eating breakfast at local breakfast houses and sharing many laughs. Jim's family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the loving and caring staff of the Bret Harte Hotel and Sierra View Senior Living for the care you provided Jim and his family. Services will be held privately with his family.