James Earl "Jim" Kinney

James "Jim" Earl Kinney (CAMBRIDGE) passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2024 after a brief illness. Jim was born on Mar. 29, 1951, to Eleanor Nora (Smith) and Earl E. Kinney. He grew up in Cambridge where he attended Cambridge Borough School and began high school at Cambridge High School. Jim soon attended the newly established Lamoille Union High School in Hyde Park and graduated in its second graduating class of 1969.
Jim was a very caring, loving and dedicated father, grandfather, and community member. He loved to sit on his front porch in the village, watch the birds, and wave to the neighbors.
Jim also had a passion for restoring furniture and was always wheeling and dealing through his antique business. Jim also had an obsession for collecting Vermont milk bottles and had a group of friends that often got together to trade them. He was also a regular at the Waterbury Flea Market where he had another group of collectors he considered family. Jim continued to share his love of history and local lore with his many acquaintances at the Waterbury Flea Market.
Alongside his antique business, Jim worked at Cambridge Elementary for a number of years. During his employment at the elementary school, Jim shared his humor, was respected for his integrity and was well known for his kindness. Jim had a deep knowledge of local history. In fact, he was an ongoing presenter of the local Cambridge history unit when it was taught to the third grade class. He enjoyed passing on stories and events about the town he cherished and loved. Jim was also a steward of his town by volunteering for over thirty-five years to ensure that the village water system ran smoothly while serving as a trustee for the Village of Cambridge.
One of Jim's biggest accomplishments that he had much pride about after retiring, was hiking the Long Trail in the summer of 2017 with his best friend, Roger. The trek took them 39 days and many new friends were made. His family joined them on several sections to help them refuel, always greeted with a warm smile and hug.
Jim is survived by his children Karen (Kinney) Tibbits (Jason), Kevin Kinney & partner Beth Brown; Grandchildren Hayden and Ashton Tibbits, and Ella Kinney; best friend Roger St. Cyr (Maggie) and special friend Nicky Ford; His niece Carmen (Rooney) Fuller; his Aunt Shirley Maynard and extended family in Bakersfield; great-nieces, Amanda & Heidi Fuller. He was predeceased by his father, Earl; mother Eleanor, sister, Nancy; and niece Pam (Rooney) Fuller.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Cambridge Elementary School Gymnasium. A private committal service will be held at the family's discretion in the spring in Binghamville, VT. Arrangements are in the care of the A.W. Rich Funeral home in Fairfax. The family invites you to send online condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's memory may be given to the Green Mountain Club Donate to Green Mountain Club - Green Mountain Club, specifically the Laraway Mountain section that he loved or the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 828, Morrisville, VT 05661.