Mr. James Jay Files

Mr. Files served in the US Navy at the end of World War II and immediately following honorable discharge entered the University of Illinois, where he received both a bachelors and law degree. After graduation in 1950, Mr. Files went to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent. He had assignments in rural Kentucky and Chicago before meeting and marrying the former Marlene Rose Nowicki (deceased 2012). They spent their early married years in New York City, then returned to Chicago. During their first year of marriage, they took a road trip to New Orleans and fell in love with it. In 1963, Jim requested and was granted a transfer south. As it turned out, there was greater need for FBI agents in Mississippi during the 1960s than in New Orleans, so before the family settled in, he was transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi. 1970 brought another transfer, this time to Orlando, Florida. After another 10 years with the FBI, Mr. Files was ready to retire . . . to his second career as a practicing attorney, primarily in partnership with Evelyn Cloninger at their firm Cloninger and Files, in Oviedo, Florida.

Jim Files was a beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He was born on September 22, 1927, the fourth of seven children, and is survived by his sons John and Jason, and daughter Ashley Files Flory; daughter-in-law Debbie Files; grandchildren James Jacob, Jesse, and James Bernard Files; granddaughter Grace Audrian Flory; great grandchild Jamis; brother Richard Files, sisters Patricia Hunter and Edna Weber; and sisters-in-law Lorraine Files, Edie Files, and Cheryl Shimala. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Nature Conservancy (natureconservancy.org).

Arrangements under the direction of Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, WINTER PARK, FL.