William Earl James, 61, passed away in his home on the morning of January 26, 2021. Born to Dolores Jean Williams and Clyde Earl James on March 25, 1959 in San Diego, California, Bill is the youngest of four children, Shellie Jimenez, Michelle and Cindy James. Anybody that knew Bill James knew exactly the kind of person he was. He would give you his last dollar or the shirt off his back if you needed it. All of the kids in town knew him as “Uncle Bill,” as he would give them a $20 bill on Main Street and say “don’t spend it all in one Place.”
He lived in Cordova for more than 30 years and loved the people he was surrounded by as much as he loved spending his life there. He will be remembered for his generosity, positive and warm energy, as well as for his comical humor; in other words, his “dad jokes.” For the majority of his life, Bill worked in construction, carpentry and plumbing. Throughout Alaska, he assembled an array of commercial and private properties. Hard work meant everything to him, and he greatly valued what he did. He also loved to play just as hard as he worked. He really enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was camping out the road, hunting and fishing, or just spending time with family and friends. The way in which he decided to live was something he chose for himself at a young age. Living outside of his families’ standards cost him a lot, but in the end, he was admired for living the way he truly wanted to. He is survived by his children, Jessica, Willy, Anthony James and Desirae Eller. A celebration of his life will be held at 18 mile in Cordova during the summer of 2021.
