James K. Taylor, 89, of Libby

James K. Taylor III was born in San Diego, Calif., on April 17, 1922. He laid down his rod and creel and turned in his hammer and saw when he passed on June 27, 2011, in Kalispell, Montana after suffering a stroke.

Jim and Roberta spent many happy years together from the time they were introduced in 1982.

Roberta and Jim hit it off from the beginning and the widow and the widower were soon partners. Roberta had lost her husband Del and Jim had lost his wife Marion so both their losses were softened by their partnership.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Jim loved the outdoors. His passions in life included the many annual trips he and Roberta made to his favorite fishing spots in Wyoming.

Jim may have been a short fellow in stature but he was the tallest man in the crowd. Jim was a kind person that was a friend to everyone he met.

While Jim was a welder by trade, he never ceased to amaze everyone with the beautiful works of art he produced as a woodworker during his later retirement years.

He was rightly proud of the fruits of his many hours spent working away at the remodel of the house on Spencer Road and of his ability to complete his “den,” which he called his pride and joy.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Marion McNew and sisters Loraine Ferguson and Annette Collins, granddaughters Kimberly Hillquist and Sheila Downs.

Jim is survived by a son, Jerry (Donna) McNew, granddaughter Susie Clabby, Pinole, Calif., granddaughter Sharon Johnson, Pinole, Calif., grandson James McNew of Prescott, Ariz., and seven great grandchildren, daughter Wanda Hillquist of Sacramento, Calif., granddaughters Lisa Hillquist, San Jose, Calif., and Kristy Hillquist of San Diego, Calif.,  and two great grandchildren.

He has many nieces and nephews.  He is survived by his extended family – wife Roberta, Libby, Mont., stepsons, Steve (Cherie) Gunderson, Libby, Montana, Scott (Linda) Gunderson, Kalispell, Mont., step grandsons, Dustin (Janel) Gunderson, Kalispell, Mont., Jason Gunderson, Kalispell, Mont., and Ryan Gunderson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby.

Burial was at Pine Crest Cemetery in Sandpoint, Idaho. 

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made in Jim’s name to Christ Lutheran Church, the VFW or Kootenai Pets for Life.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.