Dad went to visit his Father in Heaven on October 8, 2007 after a brief illness. James was born in Weldona, Colorado on March 26, 1928 to James “Lee” and Gladys “Bernice” Phelps. The family arrived in Idaho in the late 1930’s, and he was raised on a farm on the hill outside of Roswell, Idaho. He graduated from Wilder High School spring of 1946 and entered the Navy that fall.
He served his country in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S Midway. During those years he corresponded with Dorothy Burt and upon returning from the Navy he married Dorothy on July 7, 1948. They started their family in the Ten Davis area east of Parma, on the farm their first two of their children were born, Beth Nadine and John Rhannon. When John was eleven months old they moved to Colorado where James worked for the city of Fort Morgan, where the next two children David Patrick and Barbara Ann were born.
They all returned to Idaho so that James could attend Boise Junior College. During the two years it took to earn his teaching certificate another son was born Bill Maynard. Upon completing college his first teaching assignment was in Grand View, Idaho. Their last child Josephine Louise was born while they were living there. James taught a total of 26 years and his last assignment was in Adrian Grade School.
Upon retiring he worked many different jobs his last being “Fetch” for his eldest son. In December 1997 James and Dorothy Phelps sold the This-L-Dew farm and moved into Ontario, Oregon. James became activity in his church, Sunrise Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his eldest daughter Beth Nadine. He leaves behind his wife of 59 years Dorothy and five children; John and Claudia Phelps, David and Diane Phelps, Barbara and Russell Nelson, Bill and Joy Phelps and Josephine and Thomas Heuterman. He also leaves two brothers and one sister, twenty-three grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren.
Services are planned for Saturday October 13th at 10 am at the Sunrise Christian Church, 968 S.W. 30th Street, on Hwy 201, Ontario, Oregon. We invite our friends to come and share a time of remembrance.
Contributed by: T. Heuterman
