Gerard P. 'Jerry' James, 74

Gerard P. “Jerry” James, 74, of Sagle, Idaho, passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, from cancer.

The family will have a private celebration of life at a later date.

Jerry was born on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1935, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in San Francisco, Calif., to Ernest Scott James and Florence Fortin James. He attended Serra and Sequoia high schools. After graduating from high school, he joined the Marines and was sent to Japan as a member of the Military Police in the occupation forces after World War II.

After being honorably discharged from the service, he married and settled in Redwood City, Calif., and worked for Lytton Industries in San Carlos. Four children were born during this time.

In 1967, he and his family moved to Dallas, Ore., where he worked at Gerlinger Industries, and was self employed in the construction business. Two of his companies, James & Wiens and J & Y, built several homes in the Dallas area. He also co-owned and operated Value Rent-All for several years in Dallas before moving to Sagle, Idaho, with his wife Deanna in 1983. He worked at the Merritt Saw Mill as millwright and carpenter and he and Deanna operated a family business, Northwood Products.

 Jerry will be remembered for his integrity and love of nature, especially birds and trees. He often felt he was born a century too late, and had a deep appreciation for and mastery of many trades and skills that are all but lost today. In Sagle, he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of building a log home himself, using many traditional tools and methods. His family will miss his many talents and skills, but mostly his thoughtfulness, sense of humor and clear-thinking, philosophical nature.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Deanna (formerly Young) at the family home in Sagle, and his children, Susan of Louisville, Ky., Jeanyne (Robin) of Lyons, Ore., Mark (Brenda) of Dallas, Ore., Scott (Marie) of Aumsville, Ore., Catherine (Tom) Hitchman of Olympia, Wash., and Melinda (Jeff) Stearns of Sagle. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Korey, Christopher, Daniel, Jessica, Jimmy, Tucker, Andy, Brad, Kasey, Griffin, Casey, Calli and Cody. He is also survived by his sister, Frances (Ken) Stephens of Redwood City, Calif.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign Jerry’s guest book.