James Kenneth Bayne, 88, passed away on February 24, 2016, in the presence of family and friends, at his Silver City home. Jim had a long and rewarding life.
Jim was born in Akron, Ohio in July, 1927 to Nathaniel & Elizabeth (Thomas) Bayne. He was the oldest of three children. As an aspiring musician he played the saxophone, and was the drum major of his high school band. He was an avid fan of Artie Shaw and played in the school dance band. When not in school he worked for Goodyear building B-29 parts for the war effort. Upon graduating from St Vincent's High School in Akron he enlisted in the Navy and served as a Signalman on the carrier USS Yorktown. After his discharge he returned to Akron, went to work for Ohio Bell as a lineman and enlisted in the Army Reserve. He met and married Cecilia Klein in Cuyahoga Falls and had three children. In 1955 they moved to Arizona.
Jim's job moved him around over the years, and he lived and worked in Mesa, Tucson, Flagstaff, Globe and Safford. He rose through the ranks at both Mountain Bell and the Army Reserve and was highly respected by his peers and superiors for his dedication and skill. As a telephone engineer he was responsible for a significant portion of the projects developed in southern Arizona. As a military man he had few equals: an infantry sergeant, tank commander and finally Command Sergeant Major of the 8/40th Armor Battalion. He earned the respect of his men and officers and his units reflected the high standards of his unceasing efforts.
Jim's second marriage was to Ellen Foote, in Safford, and there he helped raise her two sons. On retiring from both Mountain Bell and the Army in the late 70's he went to work as a contractor for a variety of engineering firms, spending the next decade traveling the US from New York to Washington State, finally working in Cairo, Egypt, designing the first fiber optic phone system in that city. He and Ellen travelled widely in North Africa and Europe, returning with endless hours of fascinating adventure stories.
Finally settling in New Mexico, Jim & Ellen lived in a wonderful home at Lake Roberts where Jim worked at the Sapillo Creek Volunteer Fire Department, ultimately becoming Fire Chief. In recent years they bought a home in Silver City and Jim remained active, serving on the Board of Directors of his HOA. He was also a longtime member of the Silver City Elks Club #413.
Jim lived his life to the fullest. He was a perfectionist, but never expected more from others than he gave. He was a voracious reader, and he amassed an impressive library that included the classics, biographies and military history. He appreciated music, arts and culture, and passed these qualities on to his children.
Jim was preceeded in death by Ellen, his wife of forty-four years, as well as his stepsons Craig and Keith Merrell, grandson Eric Merrell, and his brother Jerry Bayne.
He is survived by daughter Carolyn Bayne (John Staus) of Denver, CO, sons Michael (Joyce) Bayne of Marshalltown, IA and James (Linda) Bayne of Tucson, AZ, daughters-in-law Janis (Keith) Merrell of Mesa, AZ and Dondi (Craig) Merrell of Hanover, NM, sister Patricia Smith of Tacoma, WA, sister-in-law Pat (Jerry) Bayne of Riverside, CA, his aunt Eileen Easter of Orlando, FL, cousin Lucille Smith of Mt Vernon, OH, nieces Judy (Doug) Hanson of Gila, NM, Jan Foote of Colorado Springs, CO, and Marci (Mike) Olinghouse of Tishomingo, OK, former wife Cecilia Mills of Tucson, AZ. He had seventeen grandchildren and forty-five great grandchildren. In passing Jim also leaves behind countless good and loving friends. His family offers many thanks for your support and good wishes during his final days.
Graveside services will be held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 11am on Friday, March 11, 2016.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Horizon Hospice of Silver City.
Jim was born in Akron, Ohio in July, 1927 to Nathaniel & Elizabeth (Thomas) Bayne. He was the oldest of three children. As an aspiring musician he played the saxophone, and was the drum major of his high school band. He was an avid fan of Artie Shaw and played in the school dance band. When not in school he worked for Goodyear building B-29 parts for the war effort. Upon graduating from St Vincent's High School in Akron he enlisted in the Navy and served as a Signalman on the carrier USS Yorktown. After his discharge he returned to Akron, went to work for Ohio Bell as a lineman and enlisted in the Army Reserve. He met and married Cecilia Klein in Cuyahoga Falls and had three children. In 1955 they moved to Arizona.
Jim's job moved him around over the years, and he lived and worked in Mesa, Tucson, Flagstaff, Globe and Safford. He rose through the ranks at both Mountain Bell and the Army Reserve and was highly respected by his peers and superiors for his dedication and skill. As a telephone engineer he was responsible for a significant portion of the projects developed in southern Arizona. As a military man he had few equals: an infantry sergeant, tank commander and finally Command Sergeant Major of the 8/40th Armor Battalion. He earned the respect of his men and officers and his units reflected the high standards of his unceasing efforts.
Jim's second marriage was to Ellen Foote, in Safford, and there he helped raise her two sons. On retiring from both Mountain Bell and the Army in the late 70's he went to work as a contractor for a variety of engineering firms, spending the next decade traveling the US from New York to Washington State, finally working in Cairo, Egypt, designing the first fiber optic phone system in that city. He and Ellen travelled widely in North Africa and Europe, returning with endless hours of fascinating adventure stories.
Finally settling in New Mexico, Jim & Ellen lived in a wonderful home at Lake Roberts where Jim worked at the Sapillo Creek Volunteer Fire Department, ultimately becoming Fire Chief. In recent years they bought a home in Silver City and Jim remained active, serving on the Board of Directors of his HOA. He was also a longtime member of the Silver City Elks Club #413.
Jim lived his life to the fullest. He was a perfectionist, but never expected more from others than he gave. He was a voracious reader, and he amassed an impressive library that included the classics, biographies and military history. He appreciated music, arts and culture, and passed these qualities on to his children.
Jim was preceeded in death by Ellen, his wife of forty-four years, as well as his stepsons Craig and Keith Merrell, grandson Eric Merrell, and his brother Jerry Bayne.
He is survived by daughter Carolyn Bayne (John Staus) of Denver, CO, sons Michael (Joyce) Bayne of Marshalltown, IA and James (Linda) Bayne of Tucson, AZ, daughters-in-law Janis (Keith) Merrell of Mesa, AZ and Dondi (Craig) Merrell of Hanover, NM, sister Patricia Smith of Tacoma, WA, sister-in-law Pat (Jerry) Bayne of Riverside, CA, his aunt Eileen Easter of Orlando, FL, cousin Lucille Smith of Mt Vernon, OH, nieces Judy (Doug) Hanson of Gila, NM, Jan Foote of Colorado Springs, CO, and Marci (Mike) Olinghouse of Tishomingo, OK, former wife Cecilia Mills of Tucson, AZ. He had seventeen grandchildren and forty-five great grandchildren. In passing Jim also leaves behind countless good and loving friends. His family offers many thanks for your support and good wishes during his final days.
Graveside services will be held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 11am on Friday, March 11, 2016.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Horizon Hospice of Silver City.
James Kenneth Bayne, 88, passed away on February 24, 2016, in the presence of family and friends, at his Silver City home. Jim had a long and rewarding life.
Jim was born in Akron, Ohio in July, 1927 to Nathaniel & Elizabeth (Thomas) Bayne. He was the oldest of three children. As an aspiring musician he played the saxophone, and was the drum major of his high school band. He was an avid fan of Artie Shaw and played in the school dance band. When not in school he worked for Goodyear building B-29 parts for the war effort. Upon graduating from St Vincent's High School in Akron he enlisted in the Navy and served as a Signalman on the carrier USS Yorktown. After his discharge he returned to Akron, went to work for Ohio Bell as a lineman and enlisted in the Army Reserve. He met and married Cecilia Klein in Cuyahoga Falls and had three children. In 1955 they moved to Arizona.
Jim's job moved him around over the years, and he lived and worked in Mesa, Tucson, Flagstaff, Globe and Safford. He rose through the ranks at both Mountain Bell and the Army Reserve and was highly respected by his peers and superiors for his dedication and skill. As a telephone engineer he was responsible for a significant portion of the projects developed in southern Arizona. As a military man he had few equals: an infantry sergeant, tank commander and finally Command Sergeant Major of the 8/40th Armor Battalion. He earned the respect of his men and officers and his units reflected the high standards of his unceasing efforts.
Jim's second marriage was to Ellen Foote, in Safford, and there he helped raise her two sons. On retiring from both Mountain Bell and the Army in the late 70's he went to work as a contractor for a variety of engineering firms, spending the next decade traveling the US from New York to Washington State, finally working in Cairo, Egypt, designing the first fiber optic phone system in that city. He and Ellen travelled widely in North Africa and Europe, returning with endless hours of fascinating adventure stories.
Finally settling in New Mexico, Jim & Ellen lived in a wonderful home at Lake Roberts where Jim worked at the Sapillo Creek Volunteer Fire Department, ultimately becoming Fire Chief. In recent years they bought a home in Silver City and Jim remained active, serving on the Board of Directors of his HOA. He was also a longtime member of the Silver City Elks Club #413.
Jim lived his life to the fullest. He was a perfectionist, but never expected more from others than he gave. He was a voracious reader, and he amassed an impressive library that included the classics, biographies and military history. He appreciated music, arts and culture, and passed these qualities on to his children.
Jim was preceeded in death by Ellen, his wife of forty-four years, as well as his stepsons Craig and Keith Merrell, grandson Eric Merrell, and his brother Jerry Bayne.
He is survived by daughter Carolyn Bayne (John Staus) of Denver, CO, sons Michael (Joyce) Bayne of Marshalltown, IA and James (Linda) Bayne of Tucson, AZ, daughters-in-law Janis (Keith) Merrell of Mesa, AZ and Dondi (Craig) Merrell of Hanover, NM, sister Patricia Smith of Tacoma, WA, sister-in-law Pat (Jerry) Bayne of Riverside, CA, his aunt Eileen Easter of Orlando, FL, cousin Lucille Smith of Mt Vernon, OH, nieces Judy (Doug) Hanson of Gila, NM, Jan Foote of Colorado Springs, CO, and Marci (Mike) Olinghouse of Tishomingo, OK, former wife Cecilia Mills of Tucson, AZ. He had seventeen grandchildren and forty-five great grandchildren. In passing Jim also leaves behind countless good and loving friends. His family offers many thanks for your support and good wishes during his final days.
Graveside services will be held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 11am on Friday, March 11, 2016.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Horizon Hospice of Silver City.
Jim was born in Akron, Ohio in July, 1927 to Nathaniel & Elizabeth (Thomas) Bayne. He was the oldest of three children. As an aspiring musician he played the saxophone, and was the drum major of his high school band. He was an avid fan of Artie Shaw and played in the school dance band. When not in school he worked for Goodyear building B-29 parts for the war effort. Upon graduating from St Vincent's High School in Akron he enlisted in the Navy and served as a Signalman on the carrier USS Yorktown. After his discharge he returned to Akron, went to work for Ohio Bell as a lineman and enlisted in the Army Reserve. He met and married Cecilia Klein in Cuyahoga Falls and had three children. In 1955 they moved to Arizona.
Jim's job moved him around over the years, and he lived and worked in Mesa, Tucson, Flagstaff, Globe and Safford. He rose through the ranks at both Mountain Bell and the Army Reserve and was highly respected by his peers and superiors for his dedication and skill. As a telephone engineer he was responsible for a significant portion of the projects developed in southern Arizona. As a military man he had few equals: an infantry sergeant, tank commander and finally Command Sergeant Major of the 8/40th Armor Battalion. He earned the respect of his men and officers and his units reflected the high standards of his unceasing efforts.
Jim's second marriage was to Ellen Foote, in Safford, and there he helped raise her two sons. On retiring from both Mountain Bell and the Army in the late 70's he went to work as a contractor for a variety of engineering firms, spending the next decade traveling the US from New York to Washington State, finally working in Cairo, Egypt, designing the first fiber optic phone system in that city. He and Ellen travelled widely in North Africa and Europe, returning with endless hours of fascinating adventure stories.
Finally settling in New Mexico, Jim & Ellen lived in a wonderful home at Lake Roberts where Jim worked at the Sapillo Creek Volunteer Fire Department, ultimately becoming Fire Chief. In recent years they bought a home in Silver City and Jim remained active, serving on the Board of Directors of his HOA. He was also a longtime member of the Silver City Elks Club #413.
Jim lived his life to the fullest. He was a perfectionist, but never expected more from others than he gave. He was a voracious reader, and he amassed an impressive library that included the classics, biographies and military history. He appreciated music, arts and culture, and passed these qualities on to his children.
Jim was preceeded in death by Ellen, his wife of forty-four years, as well as his stepsons Craig and Keith Merrell, grandson Eric Merrell, and his brother Jerry Bayne.
He is survived by daughter Carolyn Bayne (John Staus) of Denver, CO, sons Michael (Joyce) Bayne of Marshalltown, IA and James (Linda) Bayne of Tucson, AZ, daughters-in-law Janis (Keith) Merrell of Mesa, AZ and Dondi (Craig) Merrell of Hanover, NM, sister Patricia Smith of Tacoma, WA, sister-in-law Pat (Jerry) Bayne of Riverside, CA, his aunt Eileen Easter of Orlando, FL, cousin Lucille Smith of Mt Vernon, OH, nieces Judy (Doug) Hanson of Gila, NM, Jan Foote of Colorado Springs, CO, and Marci (Mike) Olinghouse of Tishomingo, OK, former wife Cecilia Mills of Tucson, AZ. He had seventeen grandchildren and forty-five great grandchildren. In passing Jim also leaves behind countless good and loving friends. His family offers many thanks for your support and good wishes during his final days.
Graveside services will be held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 11am on Friday, March 11, 2016.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Horizon Hospice of Silver City.
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