James Lawrence Poff

James “Jim” Poff passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2017, surrounded by his loving family and his beloved dog, Annie. He leaves behind his wife Nova, daughters Karen and Kristen Poff, son-in-law Nate Blakeslee and four grandchildren: Manning, June, Arlo and Iris. He is also survived by his niece Cheryle Elmquist and nephew Gary Brownlee. Jim was born on December 6, 1931 in Chico, California to Ardye Jo and Milton Poff. Along with his sister JoAnn Ludwick, he was raised in the foothills of the Northern Sierra Nevada in the town of Paradise. Jim initially attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo but left to join the Air Force and fight in the Korean War. After his service, he finished his degree at Fresno State. His college career was interrupted a second time when he contracted polio at age 26. True to his courageous fighting spirit, he adjusted to the challenges of the disease and returned to finish his degree, receiving a BS in Agricultural Business. Although this was a difficult time, the one bright note was that Jim met his wife Nova while finishing up his rehab at the veterans hospital in Long Beach. They married in 1964 and enjoyed 53 years together. Jim and Nova raised their family in the Sacramento area, where he worked for the State of California at the Employment Development Department for over 30 years. In 2009, they relocated to Los Osos which Jim had sometimes visited as a young man. Jim loved his family and was a never-ending source of support for any problem, large or small. He enjoyed restoring cars, following auto racing, discovering new wines, and reading about Montana, where he lived as a child. Jim also loved gardening, particularly tending to his carefully cultivated collection of succulents. Over his lifetime, Jim faced many challenges due to his polio, but always persevered without complaint in his usual manner—with grace, humor, and unyielding strength. We are heartbroken to have lost him but take solace in the many years of joy we shared with him.