Lyman, SC

June 21, 1943 – October 4, 2024

Obituary for Mortuary & FindaGrave Memorial 187407172

Jon Felix James, 81 of Lyman, SC, died at home, Oct 4, 2024 in care of Agape Hospice and surrounded by immediate family.

In 1947, He and brothers George and Bob lost their mother Monica and then his father married Mabel Gleason who brought siblings Little Bob, Kathy and Mary Lou to the start of his wonderful blended family.

In the 1950s, they moved from Huntington to Lyman Rd, Chester where brothers Eddie, Billy and Dickie were added to the James Gang.

In 1961, after his father died, with many siblings still at home, he left high school to work and help Mabel. However, in 1994, Jon earned his GED diploma. He was an inspiration to other much younger GED students in the class.

In 1962 he met his wife, Diana Dahill when her classmate and his cousin, Sandy Duga Hoynoski, set them up on a successful blind date. They were married 2 years later, September, 5, 1964 and eventually raised 3 sons: Doug, Andy & Brian.

Jon got great satisfaction by teaching the boys renovations and repairs. He spent many hours weed whacking fields at County Rd, Huntington property for 32 years. He loved digging, cleaning and adding to his vintage bottle collection.

He worked at Westfield River Paper Company, Cortland Grinding Mill in Chester, and many machine shops competed for his precise skills to produce quality aircraft parts: Hemco; Advance Industries; Westfield Gage; Valley Gage, and Industrial Precision Inc. After working 23 years at Berkshire Industries, he retired.

His 2010 retirement took him & Diana to Upstate SC, where his oldest son, Doug & family lived. He was always available long distance for Andy and others who would call to strategize repair issues. Daily he looked forward to Sudoku, playing card games, board games and especially FARKLE, a dice game taught by cousin Bruce Weeks.

He was a lifetime NRA member and an advocate of constitutional rights, especially to bear arms. He was a member of College Church, Northampton, Mass. before joining North Hills Church, Taylors, SC

Those left behind to cherish Jon's memory are: His wife of 60 years, Diana Dahill James, children Douglas, Spartanburg, SC; Andrew (Amber), Monson, MA.

Brothers: George, (John) Cathedral City, CA; William (Toni) Russell, MA; Richard (Kim) Chester, MA; Sisters Kathleen Jones;(Clark) Huntington, MA; Mary Lou Burns (Jim) Blandford, MA

Grandchildren: Caitlin Wager (Rob), SC; Stephen James (Bianca) NJ; Jared James, SC; Robert Harris (Charlotte) CT; Adam (Darian) Ouellette and Maxwell Ouellette, MA

Also, many cousins, nieces, nephews, expected great grandchildren; church families; neighbors; many machinists and other friends.

Jon is predeceased by: youngest Son, Brian George 2013; his birth parents George Samuel 1961 and Monica Rose Duga James 1947 and 2nd mom Mabel Irene Wilkins Gleason James 1973; brothers Robert Francis James 2017; Robert Oliver Gleason 2008; Edward Alfred James 2021; and many beloved grandparents, aunts & uncles across the USA & Canada.

+++Info for Country Journal, Huntington, MA May 15, 2025 Death Notice +++

James, Jon Felix

Died October 4, 2024

The recorded live service is available on FaceBook.

North Hills Church - Jon James Homegoing Service. October 10, 2024

https://www.facebook.com/NorthHillsSC/videos/jon-james-homegoing-service/506662728856582/

Future Private Burial at Norwich Bridge Cemetery, Huntington, MA 01050

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187407172/jon-felix-james

Sullivan Brothers Mortuary, Inc

927 E Poinsett Street Extension, Greer, SC 29651

Please keep the family in your prayers.  Please take time to sign the online guestbook and leave a precious memory for the family to share at a later time.

The family thank you for all your love and support during this time.

The James family is being cared for by Sullivan Bros. Mortuary Inc. and Cremation Centers of South Carolina.