On October 23, 1936 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the place where the groundhog predicts the weather each year, James Brown Boyer III was born.

James, who went by “Jim” to all who knew him; “Jimmy” by his wife of 63 years, and “Gramps” by his grandchildren; he was a special man.

He lived a life of service: in career, in his love and devotion to his wife, his family, and really anyone he met. He served for four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his exit from the military, he worked as a carpenter and drove cab with his father in Fallon, Nevada. He married his wife Diane in 1960. They had three sons, Steven, Scott, and Stuart. He served 18 years as a fireman at the Milpitas Fire Department. He maintained friendships with his fellow firemen for the rest of his life.

The family moved to Knights Ferry in 1974. He worked for OID for 12 years. He had nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Services will be held at St. Matthias Church in Oakdale on September 29 at 10 a.m.

Remembrances may be donated to St. Matthias Church, PO Box 26, Oakdale, CA 95361.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Sept. 27, 2023