James Edward McErlane

Jim was born in Saint Michael's Hospital in Grand Forks , N.D., Nov. 29, 1931, to Charles F. and Fanny T. McErlane. He was the youngest of seven children raised in Whitman, N.D. He attended the University of North Dakota and was a member of Kappa Sigma Tau Social Fraternity graduating in 1953 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Following his graduation Jim was hired by DuPont to work in the Savannah River Plant in Augusta, South Carolina. After working there for five years he moved to Wilmington, Del., working there for 27 years in the Engineering Development Laboratory. Jim retired in 1985 and moved to Placerville, Calif.

In 1958 Jim married his first wife, Doris Rowlands, a native of Placerville who he met in South Carolina. Together they raised three children, Matthew, Christopher and Laura. Doris and Christopher predeceased him in 1994. He is survived by Patricia, Matthew and Laura.

In 1996 Jim married his second wife, Patricia Ruth Jocoy in Placerville, California. They remained happily married until Jim’s passing.

Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed the hobbies of restoring cars, making home improvements, backpacking and hiking. When he retired he joined the Sierra Club and became a outings coordinator and hike leader for over 20 years. He also served as a member of the trails advisory committee for El Dorado County, California for almost 25 years.

He was a member of Saint Patrick Church in Placerville.

Services to be planned at a later date.