James "Jimmy" Carver McCandless Jr.

James Carver McCandless Jr. (better known to his family as Jim, Jimmy and Pop), took his journey to heaven to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, OR. He was a resident of Grants Pass, OR. Jim was 73 years old.

Jim was born in New Brighton, PA on September 26, 1951 to James Carver McCandless Sr. and Sally Mae Rheer. Sallie gave birth to eight children. After moving around, the family eventually settled in the Bay Area of California.

Jim attended many high schools, his last and favorite one being Roseburg High School in Roseburg, Oregon. This one he mentioned his memories of often.

After high school, Jim was enjoying life when he randomly received a letter in 1970, inviting him to join the AirForce. He thought it was a joke and didn’t take it seriously. This letter included a warning that if he did not respond, he would be drafted into the U.S. Army. He ignored the invitation and low and behold, a few weeks later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He learned a lot from Boot Camp and completed his high school education there. Often, throughout my childhood, dad was always singing his army chants and songs around the house. My dad would bounce a penny off my less than perfectly made bed throughout my early childhood thinking I would re-make my bed but it only made me laugh.

While Jim was in the army, on a weekend break, he ventured out to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with his army buddies. This is where he and my mom met up unexpectedly with her friends and over time, fell in love and got married on November 19, 1971. They settled down in Aptos, CA. In December of 1973, they had a son, James Carver McCandless 111. The family moved to Redding, CA in 1975. Debbie gave birth to a daughter, Alishia Yvette McCandless in November of 1975.

Jim was a man of motivation and had a strong love of learning. He read all kinds of books and loved to research multiple topics. After his children were born, he soon followed in his father’s footsteps and earned his Roofing Contractor’s License at the age of 21. Soon after, he earned his General Contractor’s license, one of the youngest in the state to earn this. Jim later secured contracts to roof Shasta Dam and Montgomery Wards, just a few of many to come. He loved adventure and soon took an opportunity from an aviation company for payment in flying lessons. He earned his pilot’s license from this opportunity. He enjoyed flying solo and with family and friends. I remember flying with him as a child, thinking every kid flew in airplanes with their dads. Boy was I wrong about that! Later in life, as the family grew older, dad became an insurance agent. This soon changed into his love of computers. He studied programming and became a computer programmer just in time for the Silicon Valley era. He became immersed in the rat race and enjoyed every minute. He and his favorite cousin Buddy lived and breathed computers during this time. Jim soon became a business owner and programming consultant of Summit Computers Programmers and Consultants in CA, ID and WA states. He was a genius of sorts when it came to programming, even creating programs for hospitals. My brother and I spent many afternoons after school in high school in Idaho in our family computer store. Many memories! I was so proud.

Dad was an artist and not many knew this. I would watch him carve animals out of stones and wood. My favorite one was a turtle. He helped build cabinets with his dad in his youth. He was also very musical. He played the trumpet in the band in high school and later learned to play the guitar. His baritone voice would go so low that many in the family try to imitate it still to this day. He loved to sing his favorite Christmas song solo and with his brothers on the family Christmas tree lot, Blue Christmas, by Elvis. The brothers were so good at singing, (Jim, Zach, Mark, George and Chris) they could have made an album! I remember many mornings in the 70’s and 80’s, waking up to my dad singing songs. It used to drive me crazy, but I would do anything to hear him sing now. The latest hobby that dad had, against his doctor’s orders, was his obsessive baking of sticky buns. He would make these sticky buns often, keeping mom running to the store to supply his needed ingredients. Jim liked to send family pictures of his proud buns when he made them. He also consistently sent daily good morning and good night texts with a movie of the day to all of the family. This will be missed by all of the family.

In his younger years, he raced motorcycles and was on the Wide World of Sports. He earned the name, “Crash McCandless.” He and his cousin Timmy were fearless. Dad was both a tough guy who took no guff and a kind man who would go out of his way to help strangers and family. He loved to surf with his son in Santa Cruz, Ca and Cocoa Beach, Florida. When Hurricane Andrew came to shore in 1992, Jim and his son got their wetsuits on and paddled out to ride the waves. Again, they were fearless.

My dad loved to laugh and tell stories. We all have them memorized in our heads for life. He was proud of his kids, his grandkids and nieces and nephews. He loved his friends like family. Jim loved his sisters and brothers and would do anything for them.

He loved God with all of his heart and soul and had a genuine concern and mission for his country’s future. Jim joined the Knights of Templar, a Christian order of chivalry in his later years, which he was very proud of.

Jim leaves behind his cherished, loving wife of 53 years, Debra Leigh Lloyd, a son and a daughter, James Carver McCandless 111 and Alishia Yvette Cleve. He also leaves behind six wonderful grandchildren; Megan Christine McCandless, Tyler James McCandless, Kyle John McCandless, Richard Joseph Cleve Jr., Cheyenne Elizabeth Cleve and Shania Ann Cleve. In addition, he leaves behind his dear sisters Annette McCandless and Cheryl Bauman and a close sister-in-law Rena Trimper. Jim leaves behind two brothers, Christopher and Mark McCandless, many dear friends, close cousins and his beloved nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were both parents and his three brothers Gregory McCandless, Zachary McCandless and George Trimper.

Dad, you will be missed beyond measure by all who knew you. We love you. Rest in peace.