James Henry Heath

Jim lived a full life of adventures large and small and service to his country and community in many ways. Jim was born amid the Depression in Pueblo, Colorado to Earl and Laura Heath. His father was a pharmacist in Pueblo. Jim would joke that he had been a jerk – a soda jerk – in his father’s shop. When he graduated high school, he started working installing central office telephone equipment for Western Electric, but not long after he had begun, he was called by the Army to the Korean Conflict where he served a 2-year tour. Upon return to the US, he went back to Western Electric. He retired with 34 years and 7 months of service to Western Electric (Mountain Bell, etc.).

After the war, he married Mary “Florence” Cooper and raised two daughters, Susan Ann and Margaret “Maggie” Louise. They lived in Denver, but Jim travelled to various locations to help Western Electric install the backbone to our telecommunications system here in the west. He was active in the Presbyterian Church in Pueblo, Denver, and San Manuel, serving in many capacities and will be remembered fondly as the cook for North Presbyterian Church’s annual Chuckwagon Dinner. His sister and brother-in-law, Betty May “Boo” and Bob Seal, were missionaries in Caracas, Venezuela while the girls were growing up and Jim encouraged and supported them to live with their Aunt and Uncle in Caracas as an informal study abroad. His first wife died suddenly of a heart attack in December of 1979.

Later the next year, Jim married Marcella (Marci) Lehman, who already had 3 children and together they finished raising another two girls (LeNore Louise and Lisa Elayne) and a boy (Bernie Christoff).

Jim’s adventures and service continued as he enjoyed white water river rafting as a guide (along with Marci), and as a member of the Masonic Order including Blue Lodge, Shrine and Consistory. He was also a member of the Eastern Star and an adult advisor for Masonic youth organizations, primarily the Job’s Daughters and the Order of the Rainbow for Girls. After retiring from the various incarnations of Western Electric (his most recent pension checks came from Nokia!), Jim ran various part time businesses including lawn care, nutritional supplements, ink cartridge refills, and as mobility became an issue, he sharpened knifes at the local community flea market in Oracle, Arizona. Marci and he travelled around the country in their fifth wheel RV to various army base PXs where they sold their ink cartridge refills and got to see new places and meet new people. Jim enjoyed meeting his customers and RV park neighbors, making this time of semi-retirement yet another adventure. Jim was retired for 34 years and 7 months when he passed – equaling his time of formal employment. As Jim’s mobility declined, his fondness of NASCAR, Football and other sports grew. While a diehard Broncos fan, he also rooted for U of A and other local teams. Anyone visiting would always be regaled with the stats and other interesting facts about various players, drivers, etc. that he had taken an interest in.

Jim is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Letha Leoma Neeley and sister Betty May Seal. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Marci; his brother, Bil Heath; his two daughters, Susan and Maggie Heath; three stepchildren, LeNore Kerber, Lisa Goddard, and Bernie Lehman; eight step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.

Service will be livestreamed the link will be live about 5 minutes before the service time.

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1638428328151515.