James Edward Tooley was Born in Tucson, Arizona on September 20, 1927. His father was Joseph Khalil Tooley and his mother was Sadie Tooley. His father Joe owned and operated a small produce company and Jim was raised in the business. His first love though, was music and singing and he had a beautiful voice from childhood on. He sang in many church choirs and sang many solos throughout his childhood and early teen life. Jim was often asked to sing, Our Father or Ave Maria at weddings, throughout his lifetime. He attended the University of Arizona for a few years and was then drafted and served in World War II in Japan, as part of the Occupation Army but due to a family tragedy; the death of his little brother, which devastated his father to the point where he couldn't run his business anymore, Jim was forced to quit college and take over the family business. We are proud to say that James Tooley took a small produce company and turned it into Tucson's most successful produce company, serving most of all of the produce and frozen foods needs of the restaurants, hotels and resorts in Tucson, Arizona. He married a darling girl from Los Angeles, California named Frieda Thomas and they had two children, Denise and James Tooley II. After years past the business was growing so fast that Jim invited his two brother-in-laws from Los Angeles, Al and Norman Thomas; to join him in partnership with Tooley and Sons Produce Co. James also became very involved in Holy Resurrection Antiochian Orthodox Church, sang in the choir there for 15 years and was the President of the Board for many many years. He was a man of great Christian faith who loved the Lord with all his heart.
In all the world there could never have been a more dedicated, more loving father and husband to his family, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren. James Tooley will be missed by his city, by his church and by his family that love him dearly. Today it's raining and Frieda his wife said to me, look at the heavens are crying for my husband. In fact we are all crying for the loss of our dear James, whether he is the husband or the father or the friend.
But the good news is those that are crying in heaven, have tears of joy because he has found his way back to God Almighty; who forever will be his father, and he has begun his new life that will continue forever and ever with all those who went before him.
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