This Obituary is set down for you by David, James's oldest son. Mostly, it is recollections by Dad that were told to David - as I remember them. If I make a mistake about a part of his life as I remember it, forgive me. I was not present for the first 30 years. I started remembering parts of my life with him from about the age of 4. So, I have around 58 years of memories about Dad to relate for you. The greatest Mom I'll ever know, passed on Oct. 29th 2013. Georgia might be rolling her eyes at some of the things I will present to you. It's OK Mom, Dad remembered you every day after you passed and It was hard for him waiting to see you again. James A. Stubblefield March 16th, 1922 to February 10th, 2015 John A. and James A. Stubblefield, a set of twins; were born to John A. and Maude E. Stubblefield on the 16th of March 1922. Six more siblings were part of the twins family. Bill and Wilma Kinney and Denzel Cooper were older than the boys, and step siblings to them. Ella May, Russell, and Wanita were younger than the twins and full siblings. During the worst part of the depression, by 1931, their family had eight children. Yet my father never said that he felt deprived in any way. John and James did a lot of things together as twins often do. From the stories told by James to his family, the twins spent quite a bit of their time together - getting each other into and out of trouble. Through out their school years, the twins "had each others back", and often sported corresponding abrasions, cuts and contusions. But then again, according to Dad, that's what family is all about; the support for each other. In the depression years when the twins were growing up, the Stubblefield family traveled around seeking work in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Dad's father was a Day Laborer, Rail Road worker, Inventor, Sheep shearer, Barber, Prospector and Family Man. Dad didn't tell me how his Dad acquired all of his knowledge. To me it seemed as if that wasn't really important to Dad. What was important to him was how his Dad used the knowledge he had to care for and support his family. Around 1934, John and Maude Stubblefield brought their family to the outskirts of the Town of Rogue River (in Southern Oregon). A job shearing sheep for his father brought the family to the area. When that job ran out, John Stubblefield opened up a Barber shop to make ends meet. Maude made bread and sold the bulk of it to the local shepherds. Dad told us, during this time "things were tight and I had to do what I could to help out". He helped out his family from about the age of 12 by trapping, hunting, and gathering bark from Chitum trees. The pelts from the animals he trapped and the Chitum bark he harvested were sold to a local store owner. The store owner was a "skinflint of the first order" whom Dad really didn't like, but had to do business with. I believe that Dads penchant to dicker for the best deal he could get was born during this time. At some point during those years Dad was introduced to Glen Garrett. He owned a farm in a small village to the East of Rogue River called Sam's Valley. Dad always referred to Mr. Garrett as Glen. I believe that Glen was a friend of the family. Around 1937 when Dad was 15, his family left Rogue River, to move back to Portland, OR. Dad decided to stay with Glen to him work his farm. Dad always said Glen treated him like family. He worked hard on the farm and went fishing and hunting with Glen as time permitted. So, in this way, he placed himself in a position to meet his life's mate. In the summer of 1938, at a Sam's Valley High School baseball game, James A. Stubblefield met Georgia L. DeMasters. She was a fellow sophomore classmate and according to James, "Without a doubt, the cutest little ol' gal I ever saw. As my Dad said, "Love done kicked me in the face." James courted Georgia throughout their remaining years at Sam's Valley High. After Mom's Graduation, while Dad was working for the Oregon State Maintenance Crew, he proposed marriage. They journeyed to Reno, Nevada and were married on Dec. 2nd 1941. Dad always said, "We were married on December 2nd and then 5 day's later the War broke out." Dad and Mom were back in Sam's Valley when War was declared. Dad and John, his twin, went to Medford Oregon to volunteer for service. The next day, they went through their physical examinations; John passed - Dad didn't. Because of Dad's perforated ear drum, he did not get to volunteer as a serviceman for his Country. Instead, Dad volunteered to spend the War Years in Civil Service to his Country. After joining the Civil Service, Dad and Mom moved to San Francisco CA. where Dad trained to be a carpenter. Dad took carpentry training to help build government buildings for the War effort. Mom did her part for the war effort also by going to work for the Signal Corps. Dad finished his training in 1942 and reported for work. He was told, "We don't need any more carpenters." He was, however, told to report to room 18, in a certain building in Sacramento CA. by the end of the week. Dad was even given a disbursement for travel! When Dad reported to room 18, he was asked if he still wanted to help the War effort. Dad said, "I want to do anything I can to help." They told him, "That's what we want to hear," they then asked him if he would like to repair airplanes. Dad replied, "I'm sure I can do that." So, off Dad went to another training school. The Civil Air Corps training school was in Sacramento CA. at McClellan field. Mom was able to transfer to Sacramento, they found a place to live, and Dad did his training. After training Dad went to work at McClellan field and embarked on a new career as an aircraft air frame, fuselage, wing and tailplane repairman. Within 3 months Dad was the foreman of his own crew. Dad did everything his Country asked of him, as a Carpenter, as a Foreman of an aircraft repair crew, or as Lead Mechanic of a Technical Repair Order Squad. Dad's Repair Squad did updates and repairs on current and new model airplanes used during the War. Dad's crew did TRO's on all types of airplanes at aircraft marshaling areas from Texas through California and from Alaska to Hawaii. Dad was pretty well traveled during the War and often regaled his family and friends with funny stories from those years. He said, "You had to try to remember the funny things that happened, because someone in the outfit was getting bad news every day of the week." The fighting in WW ll was over on September 2nd 1945, and Civil Air Corps Service ended for Dad in February of 1946. If you were working for the State of Oregon when you volunteered for service during the War, you would have a job waiting for you when you returned. When Dad's Civil Air Corps Service ended, he contacted the State of Oregon to resume his Maintenance job. He was told all of those positions are filled. Instead, Dad was offered a job with the State as either a Rear Chainman on a Survey Crew, or a State Police Officer Trainee. Dad said, "I decided to take the Rear Chainman position because it paid $5 more per month and I probably wouldn't get shot at." Dad got to pick the job he wanted. But Oregon only had a few positions open Statewide. So, James and Georgia moved to Roseburg Oregon. In March 1947 Dad started his career with Oregon State Highway Department. Dad would hold many positions in the Engineering branch of the Highway Department during the years he worked for the State. Learning as he went, he became a Rear Chainman, Head Chainman, Instrument Man, Survey Crew Chief, Materials Inspector, Junior Inspector, Senior Inspector, and finally; Highway Engineer 1/ Construction Projects Head Inspector. Dad held the position of Highway Engineer 1 for the final 16 years of his career. Dad didn't have a lot of formal education. He finished his high school education in the early 60's by achieving his GED while working to support his family, and taking evening college classes to reach that next rung up the ladder. The majority of the vast amount of knowledge he had was gained from on the job experience. During those busy, busy years James and Georgia had 3 children. Barbara was born in May 1948; David in April 1952; and Michael in August 1953. While perfecting his role in the State Highway Division, Dad and his family moved 5 times in Southern Oregon, including the Oregon Coast. With all of that, Dad still found time to teach the finer points of camping, hunting, fishing, clamming and crabbing to his children, his scout troop, grand children, and whoever else was included in Dad's extended family. Dad retired from his State of Oregon job in 1984. A local newspaper ran an article on Dad's retirement. One of the questions the reporter asked was if Dad could sum up his career with the State of Oregon in just one sentence. After thinking a bit Dad told him, "There are worse ways to place your footprints in history, than to be a man who could build Streets, Roads, Bridges, and Highways." After Dad retired he found himself busier than he had ever been. Dad said, "I finally have the time to do the things I couldn't do when I was working." Dad, Mom and his family could go fishing and hunting. Dad and Mom even took an extended vacation to Florida to see distant relatives. Dad did all of these things when he had the time. Most of the things he did had to do with helping family. Whenever something had to be done in the family; roof a house, build a barn, build a shop, build a fence, or repair just about anything; Dad was there coaching, helping, teaching, and getting it done. This is how I remember my father; He always wanted to help. He was always there. You could count on him. If you needed something done and asked him - heck, most of the time you didn't even have to ask him. "He" would be telling "You" when he would be there to help. Dad had his faults, what man doesn't? Dad could be stubborn. He was a perfectionist. He quite often told you what you should be doing. He did not believe that all men are equal. You could be his equal if you tried hard - then again and again, until you had accomplished what you started. You were not his equal if you hadn't been there, and done that. If you said, "I can't." He would say to you, "I can't - never accomplished anything." He thought that no one was entitled to a meal, or a job, or even a place to sleep - you had to earn your own way. In my mind he is still the toughest man I've ever known. He was uneasy with his fragility and in his waning years it made him feel helpless. Dad was always the one who helped everyone else. Having to have help himself sometimes made him hard to live with. I believe his faults were small compared to his qualities. Family was what you had, how you lived. He loved and cared for his wife and children. He helped all of us in any way he could. He was always happy to see you, and hated to see you go. He cared for all of us, his extended family, all of his life. He was married to my Mother almost 72 years and took care of her the best he could and especially throughout the waning years of their lives. One day Dad could take care of her no more, Mom passed first. Last November, at the age of 92, Dad took his last Elk hunting trip. He was hunting with family again, the way it should be. Four Generations of family, all having a great time. James A. Stubblefield is survived by his youngest sister, Wanita Edwards. He is also survived by his children; daughter Barbara Brice, her husband Douglas and daughter Katie; Son David, his wife Bernie, their son Jason, his wife Angie and daughters Lillie and Hanna; their son Kyle, his wife Emily and daughters Jaeda and Kyla; their daughter Rebecca and husband Travis; Son Michael, his wife Jeannie, their daughter Kashmere, her daughter Alicia, and son Justin; their daughter Kamber and son Michael James. He is also survived by many relatives and many, many people whom he helped, and whose lives he enriched - Just by being himself.