James Robert Richards

James Robert Richards, 68, died in Fairbanks, AK, July 18, 2010, with family by his side.
A celebration of his life will be held in Fairbanks, AK at 2pm, Friday, July 30, 2010, at St Raphael's Parish, 1125 Old Steese Hwy, with a reception following in the Parish hall.
A graveside service will be at 3 pm, Sunday, August 1, 2010, at Higbee Cemetery, Higbee, CO. A gathering will follow in La Junta, CO. The location of the gathering will be announced at the burial.
Jim was born January 8, 1942, in La Junta, CO where he attended school and graduated from La Junta H.S. in 1960. After graduation he worked for American Parts Systems throughout the West. In 1972, he and his growing family moved to Alaska, the Last Frontier, where he began working for B & C Automotive, later moving to Barrow where he worked for the North Slope Borough. After several years he went back to Colorado for a short time, but returned to Barrow to work for Eskimo Inc. managing their NAPA store. In 2001, Jim retired from Eskimo Inc and later moved to Elk Mountain, WY to build the cabin of his dreams. In Elk Mountain, Jim was elected to the City Council where he served proudly in the community he had come to love.
Jim was known by many nicknames: Jimmy Bob, Uncle Jim the Great, and Grandpa Old as Dirt to name a few. He loved hunting, fishing and racing horses. His love for corvettes began with his first, a 1956 silver corvette. His 2000 Millennium Red corvette was his current "baby'. Jim's love for fast cars also included NASCAR. He was a devoted Jeff Gordon fan.
Jim was loved and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his five children and their spouses, David Anderson, Trina Richards, Theresa Montoya and husband Aaron, Thomas Richards and wife Kristin, Lucas Richards and wife Laura; also by his four sisters, Betty Johnson and husband Frank, Elva J. Deter, Dottie McDonald, and Gladys Matthews; eleven grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Tommy and Dorothy Richards.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Interior Alaska Cancer Association, P.O. Box 80063, Fairbanks, AK 99708-0063.