James "Jim" William Hamby
Share
Tweet
Memorial Service for James "Jim" William Hamby will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday December 4, 2015 at Walker Funeral Home with Pastor Ben Whitfield officiating.
James (Jim) William Hamby (a.k.a. The Coin Guy) died November 23, 2015 after a four year long courageous battle with stage 4 prostate and bone cancer. He passed at the Hospice House under the care of the most amazing staff anyone could ask for.
Jim was born July 16, 1951 in Pittsfield, IL to James Elmer Hamby and Gladys Elisabeth (Meyers) Hamby. His early years were spent in Illinois were he raised enough trouble to turn his parents' hair gray. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960's, the Hamby family moved to Nebraska where 200 missile silos were built during the Cold War. After wreaking havoc on Nebraska, the family moved in the mid '60's to Rozet, Kaycee, and Casper, WY, then to Cutbank, MT. He joined the Navy in 1969 and served in the Vietnam War as a Communications Specialist. During his four years in service, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Ann Tucker. They were married on September 29, 1973. Four wonderful children were the by-product of their great marriage. Jim worked his heinie off to provide very well for his large family as a longtime employee of Safeway, Air Freight, and a self-employed window washer where he taught his children the importance of work ethic and how to "inspire" their own children with a raised voice.
Jim and Carolyn moved to Worland, Wy in 2007 to be with his grandchildren and spoil them absolutely rotten. He thoroughly succeeded with ease. While there, they made many wonderful friends. Jim opened a coin shop where he sold few coins but had many great hours of conversation with his good friends and was affectionately dubbed "The Coin Guy".
In 2013, Jim and Carolyn followed their daughter's family to Gillette, WY to continue spoiling their four grandsons. As usual, he made many wonderful friends in Gillette as well. He was also an avid contributor to the Gillette News Record with his letters to the editor. He very much enjoyed the compliments and arguments he garnered from his letters. He made a point to praise the V.A. and the Home Hospice for their incredibly amazing love and care they showed to him, other veterans, and his family.
Jim was always known for his generosity, love, care, kindness, the smile that was always on his face, his contagious positive attitude, his fierce love for his family, and his bravery and fighting spirit facing not only cancer, but every difficult time during his beautiful life.
Jim is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carolyn Hamby of Gillette, WY; his four children, Joseph Hamby and wife of Morgantown, WV, Bonnie Hamby and fiancée of Casper, WY, Chad Hamby and partner of Thermopolis, WY, Crystal Boyce and husband of Gillette, WY; two brothers; John Hamby of Washington State, Steve Hamby of Blackfoot, ID; plus eight beautiful grandchild and five grandfur babies who all loved their Grandpa dearly. He was the very best husband and father anyone could ask for. He positively shined as a grandpa and his family couldn't ask for a better man.
Memorials are to benefit the James Hamby Memorial Baseball Fund for underprivileged children.
Memorials and Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the web at http://www.walkerfuneralgillette.com
