James McAfee

Jim McAfee, a brief history As a youth in Pennsylvania, Jim grew up with his three sisters, Linda, Judy and Brenda and his parents James and Ardyce. His father would take the kids out of school for a family ski day, stating that this was better for his children then just another day at school. Jim loved to try his hand at everything. In high school, he was a swimmer and skier. He was the Glenside Youth Parishes President and he belonged to the Interact Club, football team, swim team and the Ski Club. In Scouts he was a Patrol Leader, a Senior Patrol Leader, and a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Jim, by nature was a teacher. His four grandparents were all teachers of one sort or another. After high school and two years in college, Jim began his "teaching career". He taught swimming and life saving, skiing, canoeing and sailing. In 1971, Jim began working as a mason and found the vocation that would provide him a living the rest of his life. He loved constructing a fireplace or a block wall that was straight and strong and true. He took pride in creating structures that would outlast him. Whatever task Jim took on, he put himself into it wholeheartedly. In 1991, Jim and wife Lisa moved to Jackson to be near the outdoor activities they loved, whitewater kayaking and downhill skiing. He had found his place in the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole. And in the years that followed he came to know almost every mason in Jackson. In 1997, Jim approached Troop 268 about becoming a leader in the Troop. This came at a difficult time in his life, during the separation and divorce from his wife. In his bitterness, his wise father suggested that he look for a way to give something back to society. "How about Scouts?" he suggested. As Jim immersed himself in Scouting he began to be drawn out of his anger and frustration. He enjoyed teaching and serving boys and young men thru Boy Scouting. By helping others he truly helped himself. In August of 2008, Jim was diagnosed with stage 4 colon-rectal cancer. Estimates were that he only had a month or so to live. Jim now touched the lives of Dr. Emmy Knobloch and the Hospice of the Tetons caregivers, as they continued to care for Jim over the next eight months James Farrar McAfee passed away quietly, Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at 9:37 PM with his sister, Judy, by his side. He was at home, as he had wished. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James S. and Ardyce McAfee, and is survived by three sisters, including Linda Reik, his dear sister Judy Scruton, Brenda Styer, and nieces and nephews. Judy's Vermont husband, Dan Scruton, supported Judy's mission to be with Jim in Wyoming, from October 2008 forward, caring for him at his house on Pearl Street, every day, for far longer than expected. Jim leaves behind many friends in Jackson Hole. Friends from the masonry and construction trades. Friends from his days on the Jackson shooting range and from those enthusiastic about the outdoors. The doctors, nurses, and caregivers that grew to know him in his last days. Jim is survived too by the Jackson District of the Boy Scouts of America, whose mission of teaching citizenship, outdoor skills and self-confidence to boys and young men just got stronger, thanks to an unassuming tradesman with a heart of gold.

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