Dear Jim - We all love you. We fell in love when you came carrying a huge turkey to our house at Thanksgiving and Christmas! We loved you and Edith all the time. We all loved you when you brought your little ones to our house at Christmas and Easter. Those were the good days when your family, and Phil and Helen's family would join our family for holiday celebrations. The excitement at Christmas was earth-shattering! Phil would bring his horses bells and we would pile all the kids presents out on the porch and soon you would hear the bells, and sure enough it would be Santa out there! We could hardly contain our excitement!

After my husband retired, we came to Arizona where our girls were, and spent our winters. Soon you were retired, and were open to the idea of escaping to Arizona for the winters. Well guess what, you fell in love with Phoenix and out you and Edith came, buying a nice house very close to where I live. You two surely had a wonderful time out here! You loved golfing, watching the ducks at the park, playing bridge, going to concerts, and of course visiting with us. How I wish you two were still here!

You and Edith had a wonderful home and enjoyed spending lots of time there. At Christmas you used to take me to the lake in Sun City where the people who owned model boats would decorate them, and parade them around the lake for all to enjoy. It was a spectacular sight!

After Edith became ill, my daughter Kim would pick you both up and bring you to church, and then we would have a few beers and  a lovely dinner afterwards. We did this every Sunday until you both moved away.

You both left a big hole in my heart but I know some day I will be seeing you again in a greater place! So until then I have my wonderful memories. God bless you both!

With all my love

We're truly sorry to learn of your loss. We hope you are all well.

This is the end of a beautiful friendship that my husband and I had with your mother and father. At age 18 we all met and continued our lives together. Seventy years is a lifetime for some people and to think we had it.

What fun we had having dinner, boating, dancing, and just being together. We all took dancing lessons and went to Painesville Ballroom to practice on Saturday nights. What great fun that was for us. 

Your parents friendship was very important to me. The miles between us kept us apart in recent years but I have thought of them often. I will miss the wonderful times we had together, but cherish the lifelong friendship we were so blessed to have. May they both rest in peace.


Great picture of Mr.and Mrs.Fotheringham brings back fond memories of their yard,the vegetable garden,their siamese cat,even the crazy erosion of our back yards and how we made the best of it.Couldn't have asked for nicer neighbors.

Although Jim is no longer be with us, his spirit will always be with us.  We cherish the memories of the love that he shared with everybody.  He missed your Mom so much, and now he is united with her in a better place.  God bless you.
Edna and Roger

Jim and Wendy,
I have so many fond memories of our families getting together during the holidays when we were growing up.  Easter being the best!  I think, J, that you and I found out that the Easter Bunny did not really exist on one of those Easters!  I loved your mom and dad very much.  I remember when they first started coming to Phoenix and my son, Ross, was just little, they used to walk him around the little lake and feed the ducks.  He loved that and I will always remember them that way.  My deepest sympathies to you and Wendy.  My prayers and thoughts are always with you.

My memories of Jim - 

Jim lived two houses from my husband, Joe so they became lifelong friends at the age of 7 or 8. They were joined at the hip, so to speak.

The buddies were always together. As they grew older and their interests changed, they joined the Turners (an athletic organization). When they had socials, females were invited. Jim and Joe learned how to dance and Jim became a very good dancer. 

When I was 18 I went into nursing. Your mother and Edie Lanser did as well. We were drawn to each other immediately, and the two Edie's were roommates.

It was inevitable that since Joe and I had been friends since child-hood, your father would meet and fall in love with Edith (your mother). Our lives were busy, the six of us were together a lot. Social outings always saw us together. 

Your Grandma and Grandpa Fotheringham bought a house just a few houses from my parents. Ellen (Jim's sister) and Bill lived there too. It was during the war and all our future husbands were in the service.

Eventually, they all came home and we were all married then. Your father was always working and very industrious. He was as close as family gets and we loved him very much. I thank the Lord for putting Jim into our lives.

Sincerely - Betty Price

Jimmy,
 
I read about your fathers passing with great sadness.  The one thing I will always remember about your father was he never treated us as the children we were.  He approached us as equals which I never became.   It is not until you are given the blessing of raising your own children that you begin to appreciate the people in your life who acted with such grace and even handedness as your father did on every occasion.  We both know we gave him more than one reason to give us a tough road and that never happened.  Your parents were and continue to be special people in my personal growth and development.  I will never forget them for all of the right reasons.  Please accept my deepest sympathy.

Francis P. (Frank) Manning

Dear Jay, Wendy and family,

I am truly heartbroken about your dad passing.  I loved him as did everyone who knew him.  In their final years when they still lived in Arizona they loved it when I came and picked them up and took them to church.  It was the highlight of their week.  We would go out to lunch and then they would either come to our house or we would go to my mom's house.  They would have a beer and we would have great fun talking about the old days.  He was always so kind and easy going.  It was a joy to be around him.  He will be truly missed.  My prayers go out to you and your family.  Take care, Love, Kim

Dear Jay and Wendy,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear father.  I loved seeing the picture of him and your mom, it brings back so many memories not only of them, but of my mom too. I miss her so much to this day, and I know you miss your parents too. I will always remember the visits when you would come to FL, those were fun times. All of you loved to go to the beach, and your dad loved to comment on the women in their bikinis. Your mom would just laugh, and he would pretend not to look. If we were lucky, your dad would make his special chocolate chip cookies! They had a true love for each other.  I always felt special and loved by both your mom and dad, and they were so good to my mom too. My prayers are with you and your families. Take care.  Love, JoAnne

Dear Jim,

I am very sorry to hear your dad died. I would like to share a story with the family. Shortly after Phil and I got married in 1955, your dad bought the house on Lake Shore Blvd. Beautiful place, it had lots of steps that went down to a boat dock on Lake Erie. Jim loved to take the boat out on the lake. I don't remember fishing, just boating up and down the lake. It broke his heart when he had to sell the boat because the lake washed away his dock, steps, and a good bit of his back yard due to erosion.

Jim and Edith loved to golf, dance, and play cards. They were very active in their younger days. Jim's favorite pie was Mincemeat. I always made him one when I knew he was coming to visit or we were going to his house. One day I just didn't have time to bake so I took the jar of Mincemeat. I told him I was sorry about the pie and he said "No problem, I'll eat it out of the jar." Which he did.

Jim was a very easy going person - well liked by everyone. May he rest in peace.

Love - Aunt Helen and Uncle Phil

Hi Jim, 

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your father.  Althought I did not have the pleasure of knowing him personally he  sounds like a man I would have been proud to know.  Your tribute to his life legacy in words is beautiful.  I can tell he will me missed and my prayers of peace go out to you and your family.

Dear Jim, 
Thank you for sharing the wonderful story of your dads life it was rich and full. i could picture you out on the lake in one of his sea worthy boats. 
My favorite memory of him was his absolute joy and glee on the day that you and Joanna wed. After the ceremony he came up to me and said "I hope you tied the knot really tight!"
His deep devotion to your mother was inspiring to witness.
May all the gifts he was able to give you as well as the so human, challenges be a source of joy and inspiration on your life journey.
My sincere condolences in this time of grieving, to you and Joanna, Kainoa and Wendy.
With love and blessings, Brenda

OBITUARY

James Robert Fotheringham

December 10, 1922 – July 2, 2011

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