Harold Lee James

Harold Lee James, age 85, of Florence, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2015, at ECM Hospital after a brief illness.  The family will receive friends at Greenview Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 from1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with the funeral service immediately following in the funeral home chapel.  Burial will follow in Greenview Memorial Park with military funeral honors.

Harold was born in Red Bay, Alabama on February 24, 1930.  His family then moved to Tuscumbia, where he spent his childhood and teen years.  Upon graduating from Mars Hill Bible School, he married Betty Ruth Statom, in 1951, and enlisted in the Navy.  He and Betty moved to Norfolk, Virginia where he was stationed.  Harold proudly served our country aboard the U.S.S. Randolph, as an aircraft navigator, during the Korean War.   He received an Honorable Discharge and moved back to Alabama, settling in Florence, where he lived the rest of his life.  In 1955, he began a 40 year career as an Instrument Mechanic with Reynolds Alloys, retiring in 1995.  He also was well known in the area for many years as a very skilled boat mechanic.  He loved nothing more than to be in his boat, on the water, casting his rod and reel.  If he wasn’t doing that, he was enjoying nature and beautiful sunsets from the porch of his lake cabin.  In addition to being a fisherman, he was also a skilled archer who enjoyed deer hunting.

Harold was a truly gifted man and was known as a jack of all trades.  He had a deep love of music and a beautiful voice many people loved to hear.  He was an artist and carpenter who sketched and painted, and worked with wood, metal and glass creating ornamental knives and guns.  He also enjoyed making jewelry for his daughters when they were young, and could fix anything mechanical or electrical.  He had a kind heart and a deep compassion for animals.  Harold was a man who lived life on his own terms.  He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and all who knew him.

He was a longstanding member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and IBEW Local 558.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Enoch James, mother, Erma Odell Lancaster James, and infant brother, as well as his beloved canine companions, Cognac and Princess. 

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Ruth Statom James, his children, Jennifer Aston (Don) of Florence, Joni James (David Gassaway) of Sheffield, Jerry James and Joey James (Nicole Hugaboom) both of Florence.  He is also survived by five beloved grandchildren, Jackie Rice (Rick) of Florence, Julie Richardson, of Moody, Hillary James, Hudson James and Sam James, all of Florence

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Hickman, Jim Winn, Dr. Burton McGee, Jim Brooks, Doug McDonald and Nick Limon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to P.A.W.S. of the Shoals, 2701 Mall Road, PMB 277, Florence, AL 35630, The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22203-1606 or The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5140, PO Box 1524Florence, AL 35631-1524.

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