James L. Pryor

At his home on the evening of Thursday, September 22, 2011 surrounded by "his three girls" and son-in-law, Jim peacefully was reunited with his mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and awaiting friends in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jim was born to Grace and William Pryor in Maywood, California, October 14, 1924, sixteen months after the birth of his brother Raymond. He enjoyed an active, happy childhood with his extended family of cousins, playing baseball, and going out to the Paiyute Desert with his grandpa Burnett. He and his family moved into the home which he and his dad and brother helped build in South Gate during the 1930's. Jim graduated from South Gate High School in 1942. He and his brother answered the call to fight for their country, with Ray joining the Marines, and Jim joining the Navy. After completing boot camp at Camp Farragut in Couer d'Alene, Idaho, he spent thirteen months at Mare Island, then went on to Pleasanton and to his final post in the Aleutian Islands at Dutch Harbor to work as a Pharmacist's Mate First Class (PhM1c) in a naval hospital where the war-injured were received. It was during this time that he met Carl Vawter, with whom he formed a life-long bond of friendship. After the war, Jim, his uncle Wayne, and new best friend Carl had a series of wild adventures, traveling to Oregon and Texas.

Jim met his future wife, Joanne Tobin, on a blind date in 1953 and married her on January 15, 1955. They took a honeymoon trip up the coast to San Francisco, then inland to Reno and Lake Tahoe, returning home to Maywood. That year, they bought a home in near-by Whittier while Jim worked as a machinist at Quality Saw and Service, the business he owned with his father. He co-captained a 32' converted fishing trawler, the Gray Dawn, with his cousin Miles Bond. Jim and Joanne bought an avocado grove in Pauma Valley in 1957. He also found time to devote to his hobbies of woodworking, masonry, fossil hunting, and bowling.

In 1962, Jim and Joanne adopted their daughter, Tobi Jean, at which time he became a devoted father. While visiting family in Redding in 1963, Jim received a job offer which began a thirty-one year career at Bob Drewry's Drewry and Son Saw Shop as a saw filer. The family homestead in Redding was completed in 1964, with many architectural and landscaping features completed by Jim with Tobi by his side. He continued to pursue his woodworking and rock hounding hobbies; he and Joanne joined the Shasta Gem and Mineral Society in 1979. As a member of the American Legion, he participated in their bowling league, as well as several couple's leagues. In all his years of employment, he logged only three sick days. As a result of his exceptional work, pastimes, and charismatic personality, he built a vast network of good companions and associates. He enjoyed rock hounding trips to the desert with his friends from the club. Following his retirement in 1994, Jim and a group of his retired buddies formed the Thursday Morning Breakfast Club, meeting at Perko's to discuss current events and reminisce about old times.

His daughter's marriage to Bob Swanson and subsequent birth of his granddaughter, Rebeccah in 1988, led to some of the happiest times of his life. He and Rebeccah cooked many breakfasts together and spent countless hours crafting in the workshop he built behind the house. When Rebeccah married her husband Kurt Willburn in December 2007, he forged an indelible bond with his new grandson-in-law talking about their numerous mutual interests, including military pursuits.

Following a decline of his vision and various medical issues, he became more of a home-body and would be surrounded by his family on weekends for breakfast at his home. His newest love late in life was a little long-haired Chihuahua named Charlie Brown, whom he loved to "sneak" tasty morsels to at the table. He was able to enjoy one last summer picnic with his rock club friends this past June, followed by a series of insurmountable health crises which finally led to his passing.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Joanne; his daughter, Tobi (Swanson) and her husband, Bob Swanson; his granddaughter, Rebeccah (Willburn) and her husband, Kurt Willburn, and his faithful companion, Charlie Brown.

Services will be held at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, California,

on Friday, September 30, at 12:30 p.m.

Vehicles will begin to assemble for the funeral procession at 11:15 a.m.

at McDonald's Chapel and depart at 11:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association - Redding Chapter, California Kidney Foundation, or Mercy Hospice.