James Homer Hoss, 87
James Homer Hoss, 87 of Hope, Idaho, died in Sandpoint on Thursday, April 7, 2005.
He was born July 19, 1917, in the family home near Rapid Lightening Creek in Idaho, the son of Raymond and Daisy Hoss.
On Monday, April 11, 2005, a family graveside service will be held at the Hope Cemetery at 11 a.m., followed by a celebration of Jim's life for friends and family at the East Hope Community Center at noon.
The Hoss family moved to Hope in 1931. Jim spent his summers on the "high line" of eastern Montana rounding up wild horses for $3 each. After graduating from Hope High School in 1936, he "rode the rails" in box-cars before finally arriving in San Francisco. He worked selling shoes, painting houses, and painting for the Alameda ship yards.
Jim married his high school sweetheart, Dora M. Carson of Hope on March 28, 1938, in Spokane, Wash. After several years in the San Francisco Bay area they returned to raise their three children in Hope.
In the following years, Jim worked various jobs in the area including car sales, the Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Dams, and owned the Clark Fork Coffee Shop. He later managed the Surprise Cafe in Libby, Mont.
Jim and Dora moved to Seattle to work for a few years before returning to Hope in 1980 to retire in the family home where they enjoyed many days fishing on Lake Pend Oreille. Jim and Dora enjoyed traveling to visit family in Germany, Alaska, and Hawaii. A favorite destination was the Oregon coast.
His family will miss his hours of storytelling, jokes, and laughter. No child's mischief was missed by Jim's sharp memory and wit.
Jim is survived by his daughter, June and Roger Entringer of Albuquerque, N.M.; his sons Jim Hoss of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Robert and Diana Hoss of Hope; a daughter-in-law, Julie Hoss of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dora Hoss; his parents, Raymond and Daisy Hoss; sisters, Hazel Newman, Dorothy Forgey and Louise Casey; brothers, Don Hoss and Howard Hoss; and daughter-in-law Sandy Hoss.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint, Idaho.