James Hart Isley

1954 - 2019

James Hart Isley 1954 - 2019
Winston-Salem, NC—James was born prematurely, but caught up to become Mr. Personality. Like his father, he loved humor and shared it with everyone. His family nicknames were "Gee boy" and "Jipper" but he was commonly known as "Jamie".
James died at home recently. Family genetics had contributed to diabetes, leading to heart disease, then kidney failure and a premature death at 64.
James was born July 19,1954, in Springfield, Illinois to Fern and Allan Isley. Little Jamie loved riding his first vehicle, a tricycle, around their big driveway on South Grand West. Later, James attended Hay-Edwards school, Franklin Jr. High, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1972. Early employment included Vredenburg Lumber Company and later U.S. Air in California and North Carolina where he was involved with scheduling airline flights and reducing coworkers' stress with humor. He later became a Licensed Massage Therapist lowering peoples stress through therapeutic massage and, again, his humor when appropriate.
James loved to be outside exploring the woods,creeks, lakes, and ocean on his hunting and fishing expeditions. He hunted by video camera when he traveled with Carolina Outdoors Productions on a trip to Alaska in search of Brown bears. That became the inspiration for him to further hone his writing skills, and publish his first book "The Bear Hunter". Other articles and publications of various kinds preceded and followed.
Later in life, less able to be out and about, he enjoyed communication via computer with his many, as he jokingly referred to them, "adoring fans", including many friends in Illinois and across the country.
James is survived by his son, Cameron in NC, former wife, Sharon in California; brother, Stan in Yakima, Washington; brother, Martin in Salem, Oregon; and numerous relatives in Illinois and Oregon. Sincere appreciation is expressed to James's longtime lady friend, Loretta Whittler Novotney, for helping James take care of his ailing mother to the end,and then helping James through numerous health difficulties as long as she could.
In accordance with James's wishes, final arrangements include cremation with his ashes coming to rest in a favorite place where he greatly enjoyed exploring and hunting many times - but never enough. At last, he will be able to remain.