1933 – 2012

SEDONA, Ariz. — James Edward McInnis Jr., died Dec. 10, in Arizona.

Jim was born to Yvonne Ayotte and James McInnis Sr. in Mexico, on Dec. 26, 1933.

He had a passion for the out of doors, even as a young boy, and often went fishing with friends and family, claiming his sister, Marion, caught the most fish.

As an adult, he took fly-fishing lessons at Orvis on the Battenkill River in Massachusetts. From that day forward, he practiced and perfected his skills anywhere he could wet a fly. Since 1995, Jim was the only permitted fly fishing guide on Oak Creek, which he loved. He continued part-time until his illness took over. Jim was participating steward of the Oak Creek Water Shed Council and a supporting member of numerous national environmental organizations.

After high school, Jim joined the Air Force and served four years as a flight mechanic at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. Returning home, he attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated with a major in English in 1962. He went to work at Pratt and Whitney and was later hired by AON Corporation as an outside field agent, selling whole life and accidental death policies.

He married Jacquelyn Powers in 1963 and daughter, Melissa, was born in 1969. The family moved from Marlborough, Conn., when Jim became a district manager in charge of the Cape Cod territory. In his spare time he loved to play golf and tennis.

Following his divorce in 1977, Jim moved to Bridgeport, Conn. and joined the Westport Unitarian Singles Group, where he was active as a discussion leader. He married Harriet Bingham in 1989 and two years later they relocated to Sedona, Ariz. Jim was maitre d’ of the dining room at Enchantment Resort for four years and then his dream job came through at Pink Jeep Tours. It combined his love of people and the outdoors and he became known as “Shuttle Jim.” He retired in March 2012.

Jim acquired his passion for Notre Dame from his father. While both were avid football fans, Jim’s admiration included the principles and integrity of the university. He could tell you almost every play and who made it, going back to the days of Knute Rockne. If a game was on TV, you didn’t dare make a sound in the room! On his 75th birthday, Harriet fulfilled his wish with two tickets for the weekend in South Bend. It poured the whole time, but it never dampened Jim’s spirit. Jim is a member of the American Legion Post No. 24 in Rumford.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet; daughter, Melissa and husband, (Tim) Theriault and granddaughter, Katelyn of East Haven, Conn.; his sister, Patricia and husband, (Don) Hopkins and sister, Marion McInnis of Rumford. He is also survived by his niece, Kathleen Kimble and her children, Brian, Jennifer, Kristin and Kevin.

He was predeceased by his parents; and his nephew, Michael Duhamel.

His great gift was his great sense of humor and he will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him.