CRATTY, James Robinson (Jim)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, November 03, 2010 James Robinson Cratty (October 5, 1935 - November 1, 2010) Jim was born in Hollywood, Calif., and died at home in Prescott Valley, Ariz. Jim was a lifelong teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Simi Valley Unified School District for a total of 40 years. His passion was baseball and played senior softball up until 2003. He was a baseball coach/teacher at Simi Valley High School for 13 years, which he always said were the "happiest days of my life." Jim retired in 2004 from Portola Middle School in Tarzana, Calif., as Dean of Students, and he and his wife Leslie moved to Prescott Valley. Even during his retirement from teaching, he continued to work as a teacher's aide at Mile High Middle School in Prescott until May 2009. His greatest accomplishment he said on many occasions was the impact he had on his students over the years. He leaves behind his wife of 15 years, Leslie; his son Michael (Monique); his three grandchildren, Nic, Cassi and Carli of Los Alamitos, Calif.; his daughter Lisa Gipson and her two children, Haylee and Logan of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and his sister, Patricia Taylor (Jack), of Calabasas, Calif. A memorial service for Jim will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, at Vineyard Christian Church on Poquito Valley Road in Prescott Valley. Rest in peace, you gentle soul. Score a home run with the big leagues up in heaven. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association of Arizona. Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel is caring for the family. Information provided by survivors.