Ahwatukee - J.D., 30, passed peacefully in his sleep on April 11, 2018. He was born on April 29, 1987, at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital to loving parents Mick and Leslie (Bowdoin) James. His grandmother and grandfather, Dean and Bobbie Bowdoin, and his aunt Deana predecease him. He is survived by his wonderful shelter rescue dog Kroos, his parents, his paternal grandmother, and many, many cousins and friends.
J.D. attended Kyrene de las Lomas and Awakening Seed schools for grade school, followed by a year at Centennial Middle School, finishing up his middle and high school years at Horizon Community Learning Center. During those years, he progressed through Cub and Boy Scouts, attaining his Eagle Scout award at age 13, receiving the Tempe Elks Eagle Scout of the Year award, and Phoenix Young Man of the Year runner-up. He had a diverse portfolio during those days, ranging from soccer to the high school golf team to Pokemon to Order of the Arrow and Phoenix Police Explorers. And of course there was always a dog at his side: Kilty, Chip, Wilson then Kroos. He traveled a lot, topped by a school field trip (with Mick) to Europe. He was Student Body President at Horizon, then went on to Northern Arizona University on an academic scholarship, graduating Cum Laude with a B.S. in Engineering/Construction Management in 2009. He was fraternity president of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
At the time of his passing, J.D. had been employed at PayPal for 3-1/2 years, where he met a group of lifelong friends. J.D. was a loyal, sensitive and kind person. He was volunteering at the Arizona Animal Welfare League no-kill shelter when he met Kroos, a beautiful German shepherd. Kroos became J.D.'s roommate and soul mate. As J.D. often said and truly believed, they rescued each other.
The outpouring of emotional and loving support to Mick and Leslie has been overwhelming. J.D. and Kroos would be honored if instead of floral tributes, any donations were forwarded to the Arizona Animal Welfare League, www.aawl.org. Kroos has now joined Mick, Leslie and puppy Jack.
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