James “Jim” Barr was born in Inglewood, CA July 15,1942. He grew up in Los Angeles and attended Washington High School where he was involved in football and gymnastics. He loved cars from a young age and was a member of the Griffins Car Club. He was drafted into the US Army in 1964 and served 2 years, stationed at Fort Benning, GA. He met Sharon and they were married November 1, 1969. Together they had three children- Jennifer, Jeffrey, and Steven. They are the proud grandparents of 6 grandchildren.
Jim ventured into business ownership in June 1972 opening Jim’s Jewelry Inc. In 2001, they purchased Crown Jewelry and moved the business to La Mirada. They merged the two, forming Jim’s Crown Jewelry. He worked as a jeweler and diamond setter for more than 60 years, creating countless pieces of art. Jim and Sharon retired in September 2017 after 45 years of business. Jim enjoyed going to the casinos and watching sports. He instilled a tremendous work ethic in his children and desire to be kind and help others. He lives on in his love for Sharon and their family, as well as each piece of jewelry he crafted with passion and skill.