James "Jim" Ray Huston

Oh, boy.

James (Jim) Ray Huston died peacefully in his sleep on April 6, 2023. He was 79 years young.

He was born in San Diego, CA on March 25, 1944 to Ray and Olive Huston. He was a quick-witted man who loved to tease and play pranks on his family and friends. Kind and compassionate to all he knew, there was not a person he met who wasn’t left with a lasting impression of him one way or another. We are all forever better for knowing and loving Jim.

Jim grew up in Caldwell, ID and then moved to Garden Valley, ID, where he graduated high school. His first job was at Scott Mountain Lookout to keep watch for lightning-caused fire starts. Soon after, he began his own business logging old trees and planting new ones. Jim was and is regarded as a worker who never backed away from a challenge or considered any task too difficult. He rolled up his sleeves and got the job done no matter what, and people who met him at all stages of his life continue to call him the toughest man they knew.

As his work choices suggest, Jim had a genuine love for being outside. He spent much of his life fishing, hunting, and flying his airplane, skills which were self-taught and honed over time. It was on his airplane adventures where Jim made some of his best memories with his greatest friends, including a skilled landing between the tall trees of Deadwood Campground for a weekend catching trout. His love of fishing brought him to Mexico many a winter, spending months at a time in Cabos in his favorite spot: on a boat, fishing pole in one hand, cold beer in the other. When he wasn’t enjoying the outdoors, Jim tended to his beloved horses and worked on his Caterpillars, only pausing to crack a joke or spout deep mechanical facts for anyone in earshot. 

A man with the best sense of humor, Jim had an uncanny ability to give everyone around him full-belly laughs. He loved to make people smile, whether it be through his countless pranks, inside jokes, well-timed one liners, or spontaneous dance breaks no matter the occasion. Boy, did this man love to dance. He also had a deep love of ice cream and almost every night, you could find him with a bowl of maple nut ice cream with a piece of bologna or hot dog for added flavor. Jim’s passion for fun created countless memories for those around him and underscored the importance of working hard but always making time to enjoy life and the people it’s shared with. 

Jim lived a life full of adventure, but his greatest love of all was his family. He is survived by his long time loving partner, Carol Allender; brothers: Dave (Sandy) Huston, Jerry (Louinda) Huston, and Leroy (Runt) Huston; daughters: Vicky Burford, Vivian (Marty) Mitchell, Wendy (DJ) Taylor, Josie Davis; sons: Smoky (Sue) Huston, Perry (Steph) Huston; step-daughter Amanda (Cliff) Jones; and numerous grandkids and great-grandkids that he cherished.

In lieu of a service, Jim asked for his ashes to be spread near his favorite hunting spot in the mountains of Idaho, a simple but beautiful memorial for a man that lived a life to be celebrated and remembered.

In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in memory of Jim’s tree planting business

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