James Robert Fuller

1941 - 2024

James Robert (Jim) Fuller

July 6, 1941 - October 19, 2024

Stites, Idaho - Jim was born in Caldwell, Idaho to Lewis G. Fuller and Gwendolyn M. Fuller. He joined a brother Norman.

Jim grew up on a farm near Caldwell. Learned to work hard, but also enjoyed his animals and time hunting pheasants with his dog Maggie along the canal that ran through their farm.

He attended the Caldwell schools where he played the Coronet in the pep band and a dance band, he also played the piano and organ. He graduated from Caldwell High School in 1959. He joined the Air Guard and did his basic training in San Antonio, Texas. He attended and graduated from the University of Idaho in Range management. Worked in the western part of the US and Alaska and was fire crew boss on forest fires in the western US and Alaska. He enjoyed fishing, especially fly fishing, and big game hunting, and was attacked by a black bear on one of his first hunts as a teenager. He was a rodeo bull fighter, a team roper, horseshoer and horse trainer. He married Jackie Rising, they later divorced, and Jim got custody of their son Jay.

He farmed with his dad at Caldwell, as well as having his own farm at Eagle, Idaho. He owned Beacon Light Horse Care Center, training, and teaching stables, as well as a saddle making business. He became friends with Clint Eastwood when some of the training for the movie Bronco Billy was being done at Jim's stable. He and a friend, Chuck Hall, ran a horseshoeing business, as well as Custom Cowboys, where they worked with the sheriff's department, or for individuals, catching animals that were loose and not easy to catch.

He married Mary Rae Stone who trained jumping horses at the Beacon Light stables. They later divorced. One of the horses, named Captain Pete who came from the Beacon Light stables became a 1979 world champion at the Quarter Horse show.

When the Beacon Light stables were sold, Jim and family moved to Clearwater, Idaho, built a three-story log house, ran cattle and horses and he then began managing Bugle Point Outfitters out of Elk City, Idaho where he made many good lifelong friends, including Lucky and Chris. He was in his element in the mountains with horses and mules. Jim was an excellent cook, especially with a Dutch oven where his specialty was light bread and rolls.

When Bugle Point Outfitters sold, Jim went to the POST academy in Meridian, Idaho and became a Livestock Brand Inspector, a branch of the State Police. He met and married Dixie Lynn, the love of his life, his partner and best friend. They eventually bought the place where Dixie was born in Harpster, Idaho and built a house. They had cattle, horses, dogs, and cats as well as all the wildlife one could imagine. Jim was a great storyteller, as he had so many interests, abilities, and experiences to draw from. He belonged to several organizations such as the IOOF and Masonic lodges, Harpster Fire Department, and he was the Defense Attorney in the Magruder Murder Trial play and was also a long-time square dancer.

Jim is survived by his son Jay (Beth), stepson Rocky Lockhart ( Maria), Step daughter Cindy Lockhart, Stepson Brian (Margaret) Lockhart, stepson Stacy (Julia) Lockhart and foster stepson Greg Burgess, and a passel of grandkids, some bonus, some steps, some adopted, and five great grandkids and at least one more on the way.

Cremation has taken place.

Services will be held at: The Life Center 69 US 12 Kamiah, ID Date: November 2nd 2024 Time:10 a.m. with a potluck lunch after the services. A very special thanks to all the wonderful people with the Hospice organization and all of our very special neighbors and friends.