James Seymour Fulford, 86, 'went home to be with Lord' on Feb. 20, 2007, the day after turning 86. James was born Feb. 19, 1921, in Monroe, La., and was raised in Bastrop.

He joined the U.S. Navy at 18, and served from 1940 to 1946. He served as an airplane mechanic aboard several aircraft carriers but while serving on the Wasp at Guadal Canal, at the height of World War II, it was sunk. His story was reported in The Daily Inter Lake last summer, when he and his fellow shipmate, Russ Roy, of Kalispell were reunited.

He met and married Betty Rose Kudlacek in San Diego where Betty Rose was a true 'Rosy the Riveter.' They married in 1943 and lived separate lives while Jim finished out the war.

They moved to Longview, Wash., where they raised two girls and two boys before retiring from the U.S. Post Office. They moved to Bigfork in 1976, and three of their children moved with them. Jim was a lover of the outdoors, especially hunting and horseback riding. Jim was a former member of the Back Country Horseman. He raised and rode horses as long as his health would allow him.

He was a long time member of the First Christian Church in Longview, Wash., serving as an elder until he moved to Montana where he again served as elder of the Little Brown Church. He later attended the Bigfork Chapel. Jim and Betty Rose left a legacy of faith with all their offspring to the third generation serving God.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Rose; and children, Linda Bradford and her husband, Del, of Olympia Wash., Rosemary Lafever and her husband, Jim, and Kirk Fulford and his wife, Debbie, all of Bigfork, and Brian Fulford and his wife, Gina, of Kalispell. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Kyle Fulford.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 3 at the Bigfork Chapel to celebrate his life. All friends and loved ones are welcome to attend.