Born:9/22/26 At Rest:9/1/93
Born in Bluffton,ARK. And raised on the Miller Ranch. My Dad's family where some of the first founders of Little Rock,ARK. They built the first School house, owned the first store, and his Grandfather was the first Doctor. In 1943 he joined the Navy where he did his time at war overseas. 1948 he met and married my Mother. They had 4 children. Dad worked for the California Forestry Dept. and the Fish and Wildlife Dept. of California. In 1957 he became an engineer for the Union Oil Company. That is where he worked until he retired in 1982. Along his lifes journey he had made many friends and the family grew. At the time of his passing he had 5 grandkids. Now from heaven his oldest son stands beside him and together they watch over 3 of his children, 5 of his grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Dad enjoyed life and did many things. He loved to make people laugh. He was a true hunter and fisherman at heart.
He touched many lives along the way.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
for I am not there I do not sleep
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on the snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
and when you awaken in mornings hush
I am the swift upligting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight
Why I am the soft stars that will shine
on you tonight
So do not stand at my grave and cry
For I am not there, I did not die.
Memories
*Becky James (Oldest Daughter)*
Don't know really where to start. I have so many memories of my dad. Some good and some not so good. But he was my dad and I loved him very much. I guess the one that sticks in my mind the most is the time him
and I took the horses up on top of Black Mountain. I remember it being a beautiful day and the sky was so clear you could see the whole valley. We rode the horses up the road to the top of the mountain. We just rode along slowly talking and talking about everything. Then we would get quiet and he would start singing one of the many songs he used to sing. You know the ones. The silly little songs he used to sing to us all the time. Then you know dad, he decides to take the short way back, no road. We started riding down this steep hill and the dirt gives way under my
horses hoolves and down we go. My horse practicly roles on top of me. I never seen him move so fast. Except for the time him and uncle Johnny got chased by the hornets...hee hee. He knew I was really scared so he just stood there and hugged me till I stopped shaking. Yep thats my dad. He did love us so much.
I will never forget you dad.
I am the youngest of the children. And the hardest times in my life was the day my Dad left us. You see I was Daddy's Baby. Spoiled to the core by him. I could never do wrong in his eyes. There are so many good memories that it is difficult to pick just one or two. But one of my foundest memories with my Dad was the day I caught my first fish. Every summer we would go to Oregon so Dad could fish the Rouge River for salmon. Finally the day came when I could go out on the boat and fish. I don't really think it was fishing that I wanted to do. It was spending time with my Daddy. As I sat there in the boat beside him watching him catch what I thought at the time to be all the fish. I can remember him telling me that there where plenty of fish in the river and not to worry I would catch one some day. Being 8 years old at the time and a very small, short kid my Dad sat me close to him. He set up my fishing pole and made a long cast into the river. I can still feel the excitement I had when he handed me that pole. Soon there was a bite at the end of the line. My Daddy told me not to let go of the pole no matter what. Now I laugh about that, because the fish that hit my line was almost as long as I was tall. But I held tight and Daddy came to the rescue. He held the pole and I strugled to reeled in the fish. A seven and a half pound Steelhead. Go figure everyone else was catching Salmon and I caught a Steelhead. I was so pround of that fish at the time. But now I know that it wasn't the fish at all it was the fact that I got to go fishing and caught a fish with my Daddy.
I have been a friend of the family for 33 years. Being the best friend of Teresa (the youngest daughter) I spent a lot of time in the James house. My memories I have of "Dad" are from having the opportunities to go with them on family trips. He always had lots of jokes. Usually the same ones, but we always found them funny. He was kind hearted and would give any kid the shirt off his back. I do miss his smiling face.
Please feel free to take this candle and add it to your page in Memory of all the students of Columbine High School.
Let this candle continue to flicker and remind the world of what happened on this day and that it will never be forgotten.
