James Quire

In the presence of family members, James Ernest Quire died peacefully at his south Louisville home Friday, 13 September, 2024. He was born 27 August, 1934, in Brooks, Kentucky, the only son of Cleveland Cecil Quire and Vera Mae Bunger Quire, and was raised in Louisville along with his three sisters, Norma Jean Judd, Joyce Ann McCoy and Vera Elizabeth Warren. In addition to his parents, Jim is predeceased by sisters Norma Jean and Joyce Ann along with his wife, Amy Sue Brooks Quire and grandson Cory Castle.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Cheryl Tuell (Gary), Carole Quire and Cathy Denham (Paul Michael) and sister Vera Elizabeth. His family also includes grandsons Rob May, David McKenney, William Correa Quire; granddaughters Tessa McKenney, Haven McKenney, Hannah Castle; and great grandchildren Eleanor James Quire, William Foxx Castle (parents Brian and Rachel Rousseau), Lucy DeWitt and Olivia Kearns.

Jim was a loyal and devoted husband to Sue, whom he married on 27 June, 1958. Complications from the Covid virus took Sue after 53 years of marriage in January, 2021.

Jim was a long-time member of Southeast Christian Church, where he served in a number of capacities, including deacon, usher and communion server to shut-ins and hospital patients.

After graduation from Ahrens High School, Jim was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1953 to 1961. During that time he survived two bouts with tuberculosis, including one that resulted in a year-long confinement at the infamous Waverly Hills Sanitarium in Louisville, where many TB victims lost their lives. Jim -- known by his co-workers as "Hank" -- was a valued employee of the Louisville Gas & Electric Company from the mid '50s until retiring after 40 years in 1997.

Both an avid reader and sportsman, Jim was a skilled fisherman, a talented softball player and coach and a fan of both the UK and U of L sports teams. Jim was perhaps best known for his talent as a Dartball player. Dartball is a game that originated in Pennsylvania over 100 years ago and remains a winter tradition in several northern and northeast states today. Dartball combines baseball and darts, where players throw darts at a large board painted to look like a baseball field. The game is played with rules and scoring similar to baseball and is popular in Louisville's south end where hundreds of men and women participate in church leagues. Friends from Shively Christian Church recruited Jim to play for their team, and he rewarded them by helping the Shively team to multiple championships. Individually, Jim was always at or near the top of the league's best "hitters" until he retired from the game in 2021. His passion for Dartball kept Jim's love for competitive sports alive well into his 80's and provided him with many meaningful and rich friendships.

Jim's subtle humor and infectious smile will be missed by everyone, including his many adoring neighbors. Jim and Sue lived in a small home near Louisville's Southern Parkway for 48 years, and after Sue's death Jim went on to live in their home for a total of 51 years before his passing. No one embraced the Biblical verse "Love thy neighbor" more than Jim, who was a friend to everyone in his neighborhood. Whether it was a sweeping wave "hello" from his lanky 6-foot-6 frame, a funny story, a warm smile, or just neighbors seeking his help and advice, Jim was loved and respected by all. When news of Jim's passing spread through his neighborhood, many tears were shed by friends whose lives he touched.

Jim's surviving family want to express their gratitude to nurse Gwen Haim and the entire team from Hosparus Health for their care and kindness in making him more comfortable the final three months. Expressions of sympathy to Hosparus Health or a charity of your choice will be appreciated by his family.

Jim will be laid to rest next to Sue in a private interment at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery. A memorial service will be held in Jim's honor at Southeast Christian Church's "Chapel in the Woods", 1407 Moser Road, Louisville, Thursday, 19 September. Chapel doors open at 1:10 p.m. Bob Russell will officiate a brief service beginning at 2 p.m.