James Sherman Dean Jr.

peacefully on October 27, 2024 in his home surrounded by family.

Jim was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Pauline and Jim Dean, Sr. He attended Hot Springs High school where he graduated in a class of 16 students. Being an life long lover of fishing, he fished the lakes and rivers of Arkansas. When he moved out to California, he continued that love by becoming an expert salt water fisherman, rarely returning from a fishing trip without a catch. His family enjoyed many delicious meals of salmon, barracuda, thrasher shark, rock cod, and fresh halibut.

In 1967, he met his future wife, Bonnie, while both were working at a local hospital. She as a nursing student and he as a psychiatric technician. They were married in 1968 and settled down in Oxnard, CA.

While working at Camarillo State Hospital, he discovered his real calling and joined the fire department as a volunteer fireman. Later he and Bonnie moved up to Atascadero where he took the position of full-time fireman at the State hospital.

Soon he applied for and obtained the position of Fire Captain and Paramedic at Los Osos Fire Dept. where he spent the next 20 years helping the community.

Bonnie and Jim enjoyed traveling to Europe and Hawaii and going on cruises. They also developed a love of playing poker, especially Texas hold-um and spent many hours playing in poker rooms across California and in Las Vegas, where they "played in the super seniors poker tournament"

"in the world championship of poker.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Bonnie, sisters, Linda Windborne and Shirley Dean, daughter, Eileen Lubell (Dean), grandchildren, Jenny Gulick (Mike), Jake Childs (Skip), and Zack Childs, great grandchildren, Elizabeth Gulick and Ryanne Pilloud, nephews Ryan Sharpe (Morgan) and Ian Sharpe, and nieces Tegan Sharpe and Lisa Delgato (Chris). Also sisters-in-law Susie Sharpe and Lynda Sherrick and many more nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held in his home on Saturday, Nov. 23. In lieu of flowers, please give a little of your time to someone and make their day a little brighter.