Jim Spellins

Jim was born in Merced, California to Jim and Bernice Spellins. He had two older sisters Wanda and Jeanie and one younger sister Donna. Jim grew up on a chicken ranch with his sister Wanda (who is preceded in death) Jeanie and Donna (surviving). His family owned and operated a chicken ranch on Oleander Ave, along with several properties and a grocery store Spellins Market affectionately called the “little store.”

Growing up in Merced and for a time in Watsonville, California, Jim loved to terrorize the neighborhood, he would often tell stories of stealing watermelons from the field across from the little store and eating the hearts out. He loved recalling the fights he won, the mischief he got into, the tight knit group of friends he had.

At 15 he left home and lived with his sister Wanda in El Portal, from there he got a job at the Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite, his favorite place in the world. He was very fond of his time in Yosemite and every time he talked about it his hazel eyes would sparkle.

He shared his love of the park with his family and would take them up there as often as possible.

Later Jim joined the army and made some amazing friends. He would talk about them often always using their full names as a way to honor and to remember. After an honorable medical discharge Jim moved to Santa Cruz to live with Wanda. It was there he met his wife Celeste, they were married and started a family having their daughter Kim (Rick Smiley) and son Kyle. In 1977 the family relocated to Merced to run the little store. Five years later they welcomed another daughter Kandace.

The little store is fondly remembered by many Mercedians. It was the last of its kind, a true mom and pop grocery store. Jim loved that store, more than that, he loved his customers. He would graciously give hours of his time to sit and talk his customers, his friends. A great listener and a wise man who dispensed advice as often as he dispensed groceries at that little store.

Jim loved his three children and two grandchildren Cody Smiley (Abby) and Kelcy Smiley, taking them on adventures as often as possible. He knew all the

best spots along Merced River, Yosemite, and the coast from Big Sur to Davenport. Nature was his joy and his shared this joy with all his loved ones. He loved camping, fishing, hiking and simply being in the outdoors.

Another pastime favorite for Jim was loading up in one of his vans and exploring mountain towns, no frosty or antique store went unexplored within a 150 mile radius.

He was deeply passionate about his music. Ahead of his time, he converted his garage to a bar room complete with Cervin Vega speakers as tall as he was and the finest receivers. He had concerts every weekend, he lived to rock out. Only one time on Oleander Ave a neighbor called a noise disturbance Jim shut the music off and then every hour on the hour played the guitar solo to “We Will Rock You” until dawn. No one ever called a noise disturbance on him ever again. His neighbors were angels.

Over the years his musical tastes shifted, he devoured music taking bites from every genre.

Mainly a hard rocker, this last decade was spent listening to EDM, techno, and deep house. He knew every DJ his favorites being Green Velvet, Claude Von Stroke, Diplo, Sofi Tucker, and Vakabuler. Jim breathed music, soaking in every lyric and every beat. He had 4,831 liked songs on his Spotify account barely scratching the surface of his favorites. He didn’t just listen to music, he felt the music, now he is the music.

The family will be having a celebration of life soon they plan to play it loud to make him proud.