Jim was born in New York, NY on July 12, 1915; the son of the late Lawrence C. and Matilda E. Jones. At a young age he moved with his family to Maine. He attended local schools and was a graduate of South Portland High School. Following high school Jim began working for the Portland Water District. He worked at the water district his entire working life until retiring. It was one of two jobs he ever held, and the other was delivering newpapers as a youngster.
Jim led a very active life. For years Jim had been an avid skier and is a pioneer of ski safety and ski patrols. Jim implemented the very first ski patrol in Maine. He was very active in the National Ski Patrol system, serving as its Regional Chairman for the State of Maine, a position he held for 24 years. He was a volunteer Patrol Member at Pleasant Mountain, now Shawnee Peak, for 30 years; as well as a National Ski Patrolman. Jim’s accomplishments in the area of ski patrolling are numerous, and in 2005 Jim was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame for his accomplishments and service to Maine skiers and ski resorts.
When not on the slopes either at Pleasant Mountain or in Switzerland Jim enjoyed sailing, volunteering for the American Red Cross, travelling on Maine Line bus trips and playing in a marching band. Jim was a communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church of Windham, and a loving brother-in-law, uncle and friend to many.
Predeceasing Jim was his wife Marjorie E. (Cooper) Jones in 2008; two sisters, Nathalia and Helen, a brother Philip, brother-in-law Gardner Graffam, nephew Richard Rioux and nephew-in-law Richard Sandora.
Surviving is a sister-in-law G. Marion Graffam; four nieces, Donna Dudley, Sandra Martin, Jane Sandora, and Claudine Hogarth; a nephew Lawrence Powell; great nieces and nephews Philip, Michelle and David Riley, Tasha Poissant, Nicholas Powell, and Justin Hogarth; great, great nieces and nephews Nathan, Morgan, James, Jaxson and Preston Riley, Payton Malinick, Owen Poissant, Emma and Nick Stevens, and two great, great, great nieces Maddison and Bella Riley.
Family and friends are invited to attend a period of visitation on Monday, December 1 from 9 to 10:30 AM at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland; where prayers will be recited at 10:30 prior to an 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial to be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 673 Stevens Ave. Portland. A committal service will follow Mass at Brooklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the South Portland Nursing Home Activities Fund, 42 Anthoine St., South Portland, ME 04106
Jim’s family would like to thank all the staff of the South Portland Nursing Home for the loving and exceptional care of Jim.
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