James Quincy “Jim” Hartsog, of the Beckley area, left this world peacefully on August 1, 2026. He was born at home on May 12, 1933, in Sophia, West Virginia, the tenth of eleven children of Bessie M. (Taylor) Hartsog and Edward R. Hartsog.
Growing up, Jim was active in 4-H and a natural athlete. He graduated from Sophia high school in 1951 where he played football, basketball, baseball, and softball. He earned a degree in elementary education from Concord College in 1955 and began his teaching career at Sophia Elementary School. He later served as principal of Soak Creek Elementary, then Eccles, Teel, and Coal City elementary schools, spending nineteen years at Coal City before retiring in 1989. He received his master’s degree from West Virginia University in 1958, where he played on a softball team with Fred Schaus and Leland Byrd.
Jim married the late Irene Hawkins in December 1958. They were married for ten years and had two daughters, Jennifer and Kimberly. In 1978 he married Betty Toney Hartsog, welcoming her four children—Frank, Seth, Karen, and Greg—into the family. Jim and Betty shared a happy marriage until her passing in August 2021. They loved traveling the United States together, exploring new towns while Betty conducted educational workshops across the country.
Jim took up golf at the age of forty-one and quickly excelled at the game. He was especially proud of the three holes-in-one he scored at Grandview Country Club. In later years he frequently played with Joe Skaff, his late brother John, and the late George Wilson, often noting with satisfaction when his score was lower than his age.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Toney Hartsog; his stepson, Frank Mann; his parents; and all of his siblings—sisters Jewell Graybeal and Viola St. Clair, and brothers Jarrell, John, Ralph, Dale, Buford, and Elbert Hartsog.
He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Hartsog Tieche (Albert) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Kimberly Hartsog Skaff (Greg) of Huntsville, Alabama; Betty’s children, Seth Mann (Linda) of Tampa, Florida, Karen Smith (Clinton) of Beckley, and Greg Mann (Rebecca) of Beckley; and his ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will begin at 12:00 PM, Saturday, August 8, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, followed by a service led by Pastor (and family friend) Don Kelly at 1:00 PM.
