Jim peacefully passed away leaving a legacy of service and friendship to others. He was born July 2, 1934, to
Gerald Frankie Smith and Dorothy Long Smith in Kellyville, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of two children. Jim's family moved to California when he was two years old. He attended Edison High School where he lettered in sports and in 1952 graduated from the12th grade from Stockton College. In 2005, Jim and other members of the YMCA basketball team of 1954-55 were inducted into the Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame. Jim was a member of Morning Star #19 Masons, Scottish Rite, San Joaquin Shrine Club, the Tokay Shrine Club (Zoorama) and the Stockton High Twelve Club. He was also on the founding board of the Stockton
Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center. In 1955 Jim married Shirley Louise Gilder and he also began his sheet metal apprenticeship. In 1992 he retired as a sheet metal journeyman. Following his retirement, Jim and Shirley traveled and he volunteered with S.T.A.R.S. Jim was preceded in death by both parents. He is survived by his loving wife Shirley, his sister Shirley (Ron) Brumfield, daughter Lynette (Dennis) Bingham, son Gerald (Sandra) Smith, grandchildren Jason (Michelle) Tunquist, Brian (Lisa) Tunquist, D.Michael (Liz) Tunquist, Karen (Wayne) Evans, Kayla (Bowe) Maxfield, 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. VISITATION
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 2, 2016, from 10am - 7 pm at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home (831 Industrial Way, Lodi, CA 95240).
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial at Scottish Rite Masonic Center at 4:30 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2016. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation may do so in Jim's name to the Stockton Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center, 33 W. Alpine, Stockton, Ca. 95204 or Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave, Stockton, Ca. 95204.