Jim H. Dunham |
| Posted 2017-10-15 by Pat R |
| Wickenburg Sun (Wickenburg, Arizona) Wednesday, September 27, 2017, p. A-7 Jim H. Dunham, 74, passed away in the early morning hours Sept. 18, 2017, at his home in Prescott Valley where he was receiving loving care from his family and Good Samaritan Society Prescott Hospice. Jim was born in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 27, 1942. He moved with his family to Prescott in 1952. He attended Prescott Schools until the middle of his junior year when his family bought a ranch in Wickenburg. He graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1960 and went to work the next day at Date Creek Ranch. Jim was an Amphibious Armor Crewman in the United States Army, enlisting in 1961 and honorably discharged as a SGT in 1964. He married his first wife, Theresa Murray, while in the service and had two children, Russell and Leona. They moved back to Prescott and Jim went to work for ADOT. In 1975 he married Lynn Plagge Montgomery and added another son to his heart, John Montgomery. He spent 18 years with ADOT and then went to Yavapai County Public Works as an engineering technician. He retired in 2005, after 18 years with the county. He designed several of the recent roadways in the county. Jim had many interests including woodworking, flying his plane, fishing and hunting. He was an amateur Arizona historian and folklorist. His interest in Arizona history showed in his rich song writing that evokes the romance of the hard life of working ranch hands and cowboys. He was a fixture in the local country and western music scene performing with the Country Capris in the early 1970's through 1978 and in recent years his greatest pleasure was making music with the brothers of his heart, The Rusty Pistols Cowboy Band. He was an integral part of the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering as a committee member and performer for many years. He received the prestigious Gail I. Gardner Award For a Cowboy Poet in 2012. Jim is survived by his wife, Lynn (Plagge) Dunham; children Russell Dunham (Jackie), Leona (Dunham) Wolfe, John Montgomery (Tammy); grandchildren Christopher Dunham (Alyssa), Richard Wolfe, Andrea Wolfe, Lindsay Montgomery, Hillary Montgomery; great-grandchild Jackson Dunham; siblings, Russell Dunham (Beverly), Suzie (Goodwine) Killman (Bill) and Robin (Goodwine) Palmer (Wayne). He was preceded in death by parents Hugh Richard Dunham, Hildred (Ferstle) Goodwine Phillips and beloved step-father Floyd Phillips. A celebration of life will be held at Sundown Acres, 8250 North Buchanan Dr., Prescott, Sunday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy music, poems, and happy memories. If you play an instrument, please bring it. For details contact Duane Steinbrink at (928) 925-7319. In lieu of flowers, family request donations to favorite charities. Arrangements were entrusted to Sunrise Funeral Home. ---------------------------- The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, September 24, 2017, page 4a Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Sept. 27, 1942. He moved with his family to Prescott, Arizona, in 1952. He attended Prescott schools until the middle of his junior year when his family bought a ranch in Wickenburg. He graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1960 and went to work the next day at Date Creek Ranch. Jim was an Amphibious Armor Crewman in the U.S. Army enlisting in 1961 and honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1964. Jim married his first wife, Theresa Murray, while in the service and had two children, Russell and Leona. They moved back to Prescott and Jim went to work for ADOT. In 1975, Jim married Lynn Plagge Montgomery and added another son to his heart, John Montgomery. Jim spent 18 years with ADOT and then went to Yavapai County Public Works as an engineering technician. He retired in 2005, after 18 years with the county. He designed several of the recent roadways in the county. Jim had many interests, including woodworking, flying his plane, fishing and hunting. He was an amateur Arizona historian and folklorist. His interest in Arizona history showed in his rich songwriting that evokes the romance and hard life of working ranch hands and cowboys. Jim was a fixture in the local country and western music scene, performing with the Country Capris in the early ’70s through 1978. In recent years his greatest pleasure was making music with the brothers of his heart, The Rusty Pistols Cowboy Band. Jim was an integral part of the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, both as a committee member and as a performer for many years. He was awarded the prestigious Gail I. Gardner Award For a Cowboy Poet in 2012. Jim is survived by his wife, Lynn (Plagge) Dunham; children, Russell Dunham (Jackie), Leona (Dunham) Wolfe and John Montgomery (Tammy); grandchildren, Christopher Dunham (Alyssa), Richard Wolfe, Andrea Wolfe, Lindsay Montgomery and Hillary Montgomery; great- grandchildren, Jackson Dunham; siblings, Russell Dunham (Beverly), Suzie (Goodwine) Killman (Bill) and Robin (Goodwine) Palmer (Wayne). Jim is preceded in death by his parents Hugh Richard Dunham, Hildred (Ferstle) Goodwine Phillips, and his beloved step-father, Floyd Phillips. A Celebration of Life will be held at Sundown Acres, 8250 N. Buchanan Drive, Prescott, Arizona, on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, at 10 a.m. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy music, poems, and happy memories. If you play an instrument, please bring it. For further details contact Duane Steinbrink at 928-925-7319. In lieu of flowers, family request that donations be made to your favorite charities. Arrangements entrusted to Sunrise Funeral Home. Information provided by survivors. See Also: Find A Grave |
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