Lee Horner James

Lee Horner James

Funeral services for Lee H. James, 54, will be held today, September 7, 1988 at 2 p.m. at the Congregational Church. Rev. Delbert Dick will officiate. Burial will follow in the Lusk Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites by Harmony Masonic Lodge #34. Active bearers are Perry Turnbull, Bob Kilmer, Bob Eikenberry, Everett Kilmer, Don Bone and Phil Brewster.

James, a rancher northeast of Lusk died Sunday morning, September 4, at the Niobrara Memorial Hospital where he had been confined since July 31. He had been fighting cancer since May of 1987.

He was born November 18, 1933, to Lavern and Leola James at Lusk. He attended elementary school at Node and graduated from Lusk High School in 1951. He later attended Chadron State Teachers College at Chadron.

James was a life long resident of the Kirtley community where he started his ranching career working with his dad.

On November 8, 1952, he married Mary Hales in Lusk. They made their first home on the Lavern James ranch. In 1957 they moved to a ranch adjacent to the home ranch which they purchased and have lived on since expanding their sheep and cattle industry. Following their marriage, James supplemented the ranching income by working as a full-time employee for the C & H Refinery for several years.

Lee and Mary James reared four children on the ranch, educating them in Lusk schools and actively taking part in their 4-H programs and other activities.

An avid outdoorsman, he devoted much of his energy in preserving the home ranch where he, on brother and two sisters were reared. Located at the edge of the Hat Creek Breaks, the ranch provided hunting and recreation activity for the family along with prime land for raising sheep and cattle.

As a young man he played basketball on town leagues. He was a member of Harmony Masonic Lodge #24, serving as Master Mason in 1965. He was also a member of the Lusk BPO Elks Lodge and was an avid follower of high school events. He was also a snowmobiler. The pleasure of snowmobiling was the result of having purchased one for ranching chores. The sport became a favorite winter pastime for Lee and Mary. As time would allow, the couple enjoyed snowmobile outings to the mountains and the Black Hills with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two grandchildren, a sister Marlene Goss, and a daughter, Nina (Mrs. Kenny) DeGering who passed away in 1985.

Survivors include his wife Mary, two sons, Phillip of Clark, Wyoming and David of Hill City, S.D; one daughter, Kim (Mrs. Brek) Brost of Lusk and Alliance, NE; one brother, Richard of Lusk; one sister, Frieda Hammond of Merced, CA; seven grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

For those who wish, memorials to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.

Peet Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

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