Died at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on November 19, 2016.
Jim was born on October 13, 1925 in Tacoma, Washington. He spent his youth in the Pacific Northwest United States and in Western Canada. Jim moved to Santa Barbara in 1949. In the days of little to no traffic, the handsome elegant "Sir James" could be seen driving his 1947 Paris Salon Bentley, 1936 Pearce Arrow V12 Convertible or possibly the Vanden Plas Princess. Jim had a lifelong love of car collecting, and three of his Pearce Arrows are now in the permanent collection of the Pearce Arrow Museum in Buffalo, New York.
Jim joined Penfield and Smith Engineers in 1960. He came to the company after working for the city of Santa Barbara, where he was a right-of-way agent. While at the City, he was involved in numerous important public works projects such as the annexation of the City of Santa Barbara Airport. In 1962 he was appointed "project coordinator" for Penfield Smith, and was an eloquent spokesperson for the firm. He was very well known in the community, past president of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, and member of numerous boards. Jim join the board of directors of Penfield and Smith in 1969, and was elected President of the company in 1975. Jim held that position until his retirement in 1980. After retiring, he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Jim was a traveler, observer, a student of history, lover of art, opera, automobiles and so much more. He gathered together the most beautiful assortment of God's creatures as friends. From the earliest Santa Barbara days with the Julio Gonzales family and kinships in and around his second home in Cambria to the final days in Chama and Santa Fe with Robert Moore, the Smallwood's and so many more fostered friendships. When Jim became ill, his good friend Robert Moore and other dear friends loving cared for him until his death at the age of 91.
Our very dear friend and devoted Uncle Jim leaves us with wonderful memories of graduations, weddings, first communions, birthdays and barbecues, all celebrated with Jim and his dear mother Catherine. She became Grandma Morris to the Gonzales children. Jim you were such an important member of our family and we the Julio Gonzales Family will miss you tremendously. May you rest in peace.
A memorial service will be held in Cambria, California at a later date.
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