James (Jim) Howard Hutzell was born June 10, 1916, and passed away March 3, 2008, at his home in Eureka (Cutten), Calif. He lived a long life of 91 years. He was born in Haynes, N.D., to James Russ Hutzell and Minnie E. Howard Hutzell. He was the eldest of three children, a brother, Roland and a sister, Sarah Jane.

His family were homesteaders in North Dakota. When he was 6 years old they decided to move to Ohio (Columbus area), where he went to school and completed the seventh grade. He worked in and around this area doing a lot of different things, among them some carpenter work. When he was 18 he went to work with the Civilian Conservation Camp for about 18 months. He was then drafted into the Army for four-and-a-half years. He was stationed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and then Okinawa, Japan, where he received his honorable discharge. He went home from the service via San Francisco and thought California was a beautiful place. In the late 1940s he had a chance to come back to California with some relatives and never went back to Ohio.

He started working as a laborer when he arrived, and in 1951 joined the carpenters union and was a carpenter in the area until he retired in 1981.

Jim always had a love for horses and the western way of life. His cousin, Cliff Hutzell, bought a horse in Petrolia and brought it to Redwood Acres. Jim started riding and soon bought two horses and started roping. He joined the Northern California Horseman’s Association, of which he was the oldest and longest member (30 years). He then joined the McKinleyville Roping Association and spent many a weekend roping steers. He could also be seen videotaping ropings and other western events. He loved going to western dances and dancing the night away. He always liked going to the NCHA Christmas parties and listening to country music. At Christmastime, he played Christmas carols for the whole neighborhood. He really loved to barbecue for ropings, trail rides and other various events, including family get-togethers. He worked for a few ranchers in the local area. He and his cousins bought a small ranch in the Kneeland area, which is now owned by cousin Joe Williams and his wife Linda.

Jim is survived by his first cousin Gale Hutzell; second cousins Cliff Williams, Joe Williams, Robert Williams, Veralee Bianconi, Marsha Goldstein, Richard Hutzell, Fern Thompkins, Sue Hutzell, Karen Coleman, Thom Hutzell, David Hutzell and Sandra Lawrence; many other relatives; very special and caring friend Ruth Allen; and many, many other friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Russ Hutzell and Minnie E. Hutzell; brother Roland Hutzell; sister Sarah Jane Hutzell; and first cousins Fern Williams, Bernard Hutzell, Cliff Hutzell and Earl Hutzell.

Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice. No services will be held.