Sometime in the early morning hours of July 24, 2017, Jim passed away in his sleep at his home in Stevensville, Montana.
Jim was born to James Tyler and Elnora A. Burrows in Westwood, CA on July 25, 1938. He lived a carefree childhood in Keddie, CA where his parents were employed by Western Pacific Railroad.
During these years, he gained many childhood friends, some of which he was still in contact with until his death.
Jim went to school in Quincy, CA and Stockton, CA where he graduated high school at what was then known as Stockton College. He then went on to Utah State University in Provo, UT on a football scholarship.
Jim spent his adult years working for the United States Forest Service as a Civil Engineer. He worked in California on the Plumas and Modoc National Forests, Oregon on the Fremont National Forest, and Montana on the Kootenai and Lolo National Forests. Jim retired from the Forest Service in 1994.
During his retirement he coached football at Modoc High School for 16 years. He was known as a generous, fair, and honest coach and man. He was always proud of the men his players became and was always interested in where life had taken them.
Jim was a lifetime member of the NRA, a gunsmith, and a collector of firearms. He was very interested in military history and history of the western United States. He enjoyed hunting big game. His proudest hunting moment came when he was one of two Bighorn Sheep tags drawn in the state of Montana in 1975.
Known as “papa” to his grandchildren, Jim spent the end of his life enjoying his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved watching them grow, play sports, and participate in school and civic activities. He was very proud of how smart his grandchildren and great grandchildren are.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Barbara J. Burrows, in 2011, and his sister Cathe Smith of Lake City, CA in 2010.
He is survived by his daughter Jami Burrows of Eugene, OR, daughter Jennifer Burrows of Stevensville, MT, son Eric Burrows and his wife Laura (Crum) of Stevensville, MT; grandchildren Amanda McMaster (Martin) and husband Scott of Eugene, OR, Lance Burrows and Brenna Burrows of Stevensville, MT; great grandchildren Addisyn McMaster and Kinsley McMaster of Eugene, OR.
Jim left behind many friends, Beverly Welling of Hamilton, MT, Dan Dutton of Hamilton, MT, Ken and Andy Holcomb of Libby, MT, Gary and Joan Burke of Garrison, MT, Jon Paul Paulsen of Philipsburg, MT and Ray Kinney of Columbia Falls, MT, to name a few.
There will be a celebration of life planned for a later date in Stevensville, MT in the near future.