Obituary: Russell Roy "Butch" James

A service for Russell Roy "Butch" James, 56, a longtime resident of Woodfords, Calif., will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Valhalla Estates, Camp Richardson, followed by a graveside service at Camp Richardson.

Viewing will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at FitzHenry's Funeral Home in Gardnerville.

Mr. James died July 31, 2000, at Carson-Tahoe Hospital. He was born Feb. 9, 1944, in Woodfords, to Ray and Mae James.

After graduating from Douglas High School in 1962, he attended Haskell Institute where he met his wife Eloise West.

Before returning to Woodfords, he lived in California and Cherokee, N.C.

Mr. James was a painter in Cherokee, and he helped establish the Cherokee Rodeo and BIA fire crew as well as coaching various youth sports and he was involved in the tribal community council.

In Woodfords, he was employed by the U.S. Forest Service for about 20 years, working in fire suppression and most recently in recreation. He was chairman of the WHA Board of Commissioners and volunteered his time to local causes.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Ben and Maggie Mayo James and Washoe and Minnie Dick; parents Roy and Mae Dick James; brothers Marvin and Delbert and sister Eleanor.

Among his survivors are his wife of 35 years Eloise; daughter Stacy; son Russell "Beaver," sisters Betty Cruz and Flora James and brother Edward all of Woodfords; sister Leona James of San Francisco; granddaughter Lauryn Mae of Woodfords; 29 nieces and nephews; 52 great-nieces and nephews and two great-great-nieces.