James Ray Kenyon

James Ray “Jim” Kenyon was born Dec. 5, 1950, to William Wayne and Janie Le (Paddock) Kenyon in Cortez, Colorado.

Following their divorce, Jim and older brother Bill attended school in Montrose, Colorado, until 1961 when the family moved to Aspen, which offered an idyllic outdoor lifestyle.

He made lifelong friends, learned to ski and played guitar. He attended Aspen High School until 1969, and was a star running back for the Aspen Skiers football team. In 1971 he left Aspen and partnered with McGregor Rhodes to purchase 10 acres of land on Dunn Creek near Libby, Montana.

He lived the rest of his life in Libby.

Known by his friends as “Kenyon,” he loved to play guitar and made his living as a firefighter, forestry sawyer and thinner, builder and jack of all trades.

Kenyon met Cheryl Brock in 1974, and in April, 1976, they had a daughter, Chelsea May Kenyon. In January, 2002, Chelsea gave birth to his grandson, Jazer James Kenyon.

Kenyon had and made many friends in the Northwest, including Jeb Butler, who was at his side until the end.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he, Gilly and Berry made the best thinning team in the entire northwest region. In 2002 his forestry career ended when he broke his neck while thinning.

Having built his own cabins on Dunn Creek and a house near the Kootenai River, he went into construction and was on the crew that installed the Turner Mountain ski lift. He also learned to craft fine furniture from the local Amish.

Kenyon spent his final years fishing, antler hunting and panning for gold on his mining claim.

Everyone who knew him loved his humor and charm.

He was preceded in death in 1979 by half-brother Thomas Mullikin. He is survived by daughter Chelsea Kenyon and grandson Jazer James Kenyon, of Billings; mother Janie Mullikin, of Paonia, Colorado; brother William “Bill” Kenyon, of Paonia, half-brother Tim Mullikin of Aspen, and half-sister Tamie Meck of Paonia; half-brothers Dan (Dianna) Kenyon, Dale (Kathy) Kenyon of Discovery Bay, California; half-sister Ellen (Greg) Black of Cortez; step-sister Sherry (Dave) Larsen of Oceanside, California; step-mother Loy Ann Kenyon of Cortez; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place.

A memorial will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at McGillivray Campground near Libby. Come prepared to laugh and be merry.

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby.

Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.