James Wallace Flanders

1941 - 2025

James Wallace Flanders was born in Concord NH on the stroke of midnight. The delivering physician allowed his mother to choose what day would be his birth date, and so it was determined to be March 25 in 1941. His parents were Wallace Flanders and Leona Bosely. His earliest memories were growing up on a 500-acre farm in Canterbury NH. He recounted endless tales of mischief, whether intentional or accidental-the hay truck rolling off the property and down the hill across the road after he had played "driving;" releasing the pig and scaring the female summer boarders; giving an infant a ride behind his bike in her baby buggy using a rope extension; escaping from detention at Surry School via the extra horse his sister brought back; shooting out his stepsister's television while sighting in his hunting rifle; singing his way out of a poor high school English grade with an original composition...

In high school, Jim started a band called the Keene Teens that performed locally, appeared in a Main Street parade, and opened for Johnny Cash at the former Lone Star Ranch in Reed's Ferry, NH in 1964. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps for a four-year tour, part of it in Intelligence. His occupations included vehicle sales and sales management in Brattleboro, Keene, and Cape Cod, as well as substance abuse and mental health counseling, including at the Brattleboro Retreat and at the former Spofford Hall. On the side, he had worked as a private investigator. Other interests included history, weather, farming and gardening, fishing and hunting, creative writing, British cars, flying, his Native American and other genealogical heritage, and his cats. Memberships included Cheshire County Shooting Sports Education Foundation in Keene, NRA, American Legion in Keene, and the former Keene Moose Lodge.

He wed Vicki E. Duckless of Brattleboro in 1991. He has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren from his combined family. In addition to Vicki of Keene and Joanne of Falmouth, also deeply grieving his loss are daughters Cherri Fowler and husband Rick of Florida; Tracy Baker and husband Michael and Jodi Josephs and husband David of East Falmouth; and Ashley Moody and husband Michael of Keene. His grandchildren include Spencer Grubb of Indiana; Eli Grubb and family of Washington state; Kelly McDonnell and family and Phoebe Wells and family of Florida; Lily Barber and husband Matthew, and Genevieve Josephs of Massachusetts; Briana Moody and Logan Moody of Keene. He has a brother-in-law, Allen Duckless of Putney; a father-in-law, Bob Duckless of Brattleboro; and a nephew, Francis Blanchard of Alabama. In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his sister, Carolyn Blanchard, and his nephew, James Blanchard, of Alabama.

Jim passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, September 24 from 10:00AM to 11:30AM at Cheshire Family Funeral Chapel, 44 Maple Ave, Keene, NH, with a service to begin at 11:30AM, immediately followed by a burial with military honors at Monadnock View Cemetery, 451 Park Ave, Keene, NH.

Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to Cheshire County Shooting Sports Education Foundation (CCSSEF), a 501(c)3 organization on Ferry Brook Road, with a mailing address of PO Box 233, Keene NH 03431-0233.

Services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home www.cheshirefamilyfh.com.