James Jim Charles Peyton

James Charles Peyton was born on April 5th, 1957 in Palo Alto, California to Bob and Jean Peyton. As a true west coast native, Jim loved growing up in the outdoors; whether it was swimming or riding his bike, he was sure to be out and active in the sun! In his early adult life, Jim was fascinated by the military and held American freedoms close to his heart. This would transcend into joining the Air Force from 1976 to 1980. He later participated in active duty with the Army from 1985 to 1988. During his active duty status, Jim was deployed to Korea, among other places, where he could also pursue his other lifelong interest of travel and seeing new places.

While Jim marched to a different drummer, he loved no less but saw the world through a deep introspection. He met the love of his life, Helena Harman through cycling when both lived in Washington, DC. There they would take long rides and participate in numerous cycling events. Later, when he was transferred to Denver, Colorado, he asked Helena to move with him and be his life partner.

Jim and Helena settled in Denver in the early nineties where the outdoor lifestyle of skiing, cycling, hiking and travel would be the focus of their lives. They enjoyed an historic home and planted a garden where both would enjoy the flowers of spring. Jim also would tinker with his Porsche sports car, keep the truck and bikes road ready for whatever adventure might come their way. One of Jim’s accomplishments was racing the Leadville 100 off-road bike race, where he finished in the top-10 in his age group. It is rumored that Lance Armstrong waited until Jim didn’t enter the race so that he could win it for himself!

Travel included trips to Taos, Santa Fe, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and far away places such as Austria, Turkey, the French Riviera and Italy. Some taken with family members, others just the two of them…in recent years, their travel would be repeat destinations such as Hawaii and California – Jim really loved the beach as much as he loved the mountains! Weekends were often spent up at their second home in Winter Park. Here, Jim and Helena enjoyed skiing in the winter and cycling in the summer. It was their favorite local getaway and many happy times were spent up there.

While Jim had been awarded an honorable discharge with the military, he missed this aspect of his life so he returned to join the Air Force Reserves. During this time Jim participated in a desert tour in Qatar. In 2008 Jim joined the Air National Guard where he made a great many friends. Jim would often be away on weekends with the Air National Guard training in Wyoming.

In the summer of 2008, Jim joined Helena on one of their biggest adventures as a crew member for the Colorado Flash Race cycling team in the Race-Across-America event. Jim played the role of navigator and support for the team and was an essential team member that enabled the women to win the overall team division.

It has been said that “Life lives, life dies. Life laughs, life cries. Life gives up and life tries. But life looks different through everyone's eyes.” On December 23, God determined that it was time for Jim to come home. His good heart, quiet manner and affable grin will be missed.

Jim is survived by his wife, Helena Harman; mother Jean Redding and stepfather Jim Redding; father Robert Peyton and stepmother Jeanette Peyton; brother Bob Lovejoy and sister-in-law Ming Lovejoy.

Wishing him lasting peace and a free soul at last.