James Earl

James (Jimmy) Lee Earl aged 85 died peacefully in his apartment on 4/21/2023, which is exactly how he wanted it to be. Jimmy was born in Detroit Oct 15, 1937. He was the last remaining child of James and Beatrice Earl. He joins his mother and father as well as his brothers David and Roger, and his sisters Thelma and Barbara, his daughter Tammy Jean and her son Christopher and daughter Tabitha in Heaven. Jimmy was one of the most amazing people that all who knew him could meet. He had high standards and a heart of gold. He would literally give someone the shirt off his back if he thought they needed it more than he did. He was not always the easiest person to like due to his prickly outer shell but sure was easy to love once you got past that. Jimmy rarely sat still. After he retired with 30 years from GM, he joined Laborers for Christ with his good friend Harry Patterson and they traveled and built/remodeled churches. When that journey was over, he worked "part time" for Home Depot for several years. When he finally retired from his "real jobs," he became his daughter Beth's personal handyman. Weather permitting you could find him with 3-4 projects in the works. He loved living on 10 acres and he even started mowing the unused pastures. Jimmy was very clear in how he wanted his end of life to go. He wanted to do the things he wanted to do until he couldn't any longer. Once he couldn't participate in life, he wanted to go meet God and all of his friends and family peacefully from his own bed. He was admitted to hospice Nov 2022 and then enjoyed the best quality of life that he had had in 5 years. Once his dyspnea from his COPD was under control, he started working 3-6 hours most days. He finished insulating and covering the garage walls. He cleaned out the 30'x40' garage so the floor could be epoxied and then put everything back in. He also insulated the 10' ceilings among other projects. He preferred to work alone so he could do things "his" way. He does leave several unfinished projects that Beth will have to complete. He is already dearly missed by Beth Harding and her children Jenifer and Robert (Haley), his son Bob (Teri) Earl and their children Rayna (Rob) Gardner, and their daughter Vera, Michelle (Jared) Ristuccia, and their children Corwin, Perrin, and Linden, Victoria Earl, and Tammy Nichols (Jeffrey) sons Kyle and Kenneth and Christopher's children Brennyn, Luke, Zeke, and Calli. We know that this was not goodbye forever, it's just goodbye for now.