LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Friday, Sept. 12, James Leroy Wright passed away due to complications from lung cancer.

He was home with his wife of 53 years, Karen, and other family members. Jim was 72 years old.

He was born in Nebraska on Oct. 13, 1941 to Ruby and Arnold Wright. He was the third of four children.

The family moved from Nebraska in 1946 to Fox, Oregon, then to Lake County where they raised their children in Upper Lake.

Jim graduated (rumor from his mother, “barely”) from Upper Lake High School. He dated Karen Talkin through high school and they married in 1961. They had three children, Christine, Laura and Daniel.

Jim worked for the county road department for over 40 years. He made hundreds of friends and those friends became family. He was the County Road Department Superintendent for 20 of those years.

He loved to go hunting with his friends. You all know who you are because he hunted with you.

Jim was a member of the Lake County Horseman Association, he loved to go riding. Jim also owned Jim's Complete Tree Service for any years.

Jim loved his family and his grandkids. They all called him Papa. He loved going to their sporting events, horseback riding and hunting with them.

There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his family; he loved them dearly.

Jim is survived by his wife, Karen; his daughters, Christine and husband Rex and their children, Cody and Tyler and Laura and husband Don and their children, Bryan, Miranda, and Jared; his son, Daniel and wife Nancy and their children, Rob, Dylan, and Hailey; and great-granddaughter, Rozalin.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Upper Lake Cemetery, 780 Clover Valley Road, Upper Lake.

For further information call Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, FD1336, at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .