Jimmie G. James

1943 - 2024

Jim James was born on August 18, 1943 in Challis, Idaho. He was the youngest of the nine children of Gurney James and Kate Mavity. He grew up in the family cabin on Fourth St. In high school, he suffered two head injuries that left him totally blind and he lived the rest of his life without sight.

Jim attended a school for the blind at Gooding, Idaho for three years then attended North Idaho College at Coeur d'Alene. He was determined not to let his lack of sight set him back and quickly proved that the only thing he couldn't do was see. He showed early musical talent, and earned a bachelors degree in music at Idaho State University. While in Pocatello he met and married the love of his life, Sandra Mickelsen, who had answered his ad for a student reader. Like his father and brothers, Jim became an employee of the U.S. Forest Service. He used his organizational skills to become a dependable public information officer while also serving the community at the search and rescue communications center. Jim was honored by the U.S. government as an early champion of workplace diversity and civil rights. He was an expert mechanic, and when he retired from the Forest Service he opened and worked his own car repair shop named Jimbo's with Sandy, while also serving on the Challis City Council. With Sandy at the piano or guitar, Jim's perfect pitch tenor vocals rose above many decades of parties, weddings and funerals in the area.

After his full life of many stages in rural Idaho, he died on November 7th, 2024 in Alameda, California with his daughter Missy and her family, representing family and his many friends. Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Sandy (2012), his parents Gurney and Kate James, his brothers Richard, Harry and Bill and his sisters Carol, Tiny and Stella. He is survived by his sisters Janet and Lorraine, his daughters Missy (Dave Connolly) and Angie (JR Tupper), his grandchildren Justin, Rayana, Cassie, Jack, and one great-grandchild, Brecklynn Tupper.

Services are planned next summer when the weather is better and will be announced in due course. Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the North Custer Ambulance Service, Challis Area Health Center, PO Box 980, Challis, ID 83226.

May he rest in peace.