1929
Stephen
2010
Stephen Robert James
October 23, 1929 — October 4, 2010
Stephen Robert James
1929—2010
Stephen R. James died peacefully, October 4th, 2010, at his home outside Somerville with his family at his side. He was 80 years of age and died following an extended illness.
A Service of Remembrance for Mr. James was conducted at 11 A.M. Thursday, October 7
th
at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Loyd Shelton officiating. Interment, with Full Military Honors, followed at 2 P.M. Thursday at the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Germantown.
Retired with the rank of Commander after 30 years in the United States Navy, he was stationed aboard several aircraft carriers and participated in numerous Pacific Theatre campaigns including two wartime tours in both Korea and Vietnam. A dedicated naval officer respected by senior officers and those he commanded. Epitomizing that respect one of the men he commanded would later write, “Thanks for everything you taught me… about airplanes, management, men, being a man, the Navy….”
Married to the love of his life, Freddie Nell McCandless for 57 years, their navy years found them stationed in foreign lands and West Coast states. Their last 30 were spent together on their 25-acre farm where he became a “gentlemen farmer.”
Upon his retirement he completed a BBA in Accounting at Memphis State University, graduating Cum Laude. An avid reader, gardener, Civil War buff, he loved classical music, his antique tractor and his numerous cats and dogs. He was active in his community where he was on the Board of Directors at Fayette Cares.
He leaves four children Sharon Rebecca James and husband Dwan Johnson of Oakland, CA, Stephen R. James, Jr. and wife Amy of Memphis, Gregory Thomas James and wife Cindi of Memphis, and Jesse Howard James and wife Glo of Bartlett, five grandchildren, Kiva Marie James, Jesse Lee James, Eli James, Maggie Nell James and Hobie Bartholomew James, his sister Patricia “Pat” Mickelson of Bloomington, MN, his brother Bill James and his wife Evelyn of Bloomington, IN and brother Jim Fisk and his wife Ruth of Andover, MA. All will miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his mother Marie James and birth father Lawrence Scoville Fisk, his guardian and beloved aunt Gertrude “Gert” James Winchester and her husband Howard “Slim” Winchester, as well as his older sister Mary Jo Flannery.
Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Eli James, Gregory Thomas James, Jesse Howard James, Stephen Robert James, Jr. and Dwan Johnson.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the American Diabetes Association,
5583 Murray Road, S# 200A, Memphis, TN 38119, (901)682-8232, website: www.diabetes.org.
www.peeblesfuneralhome.com
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