Dennis LeRoy James

BURLEY – Dennis LeRoy James, 66, was called home on May 24, 2015, following a heroic battle with cancer. He passed away at home in the company of loving family members.

Dennis was born Oct. 21, 1948, and raised in Burley, Idaho. He was the second of six children born to Emerd Royce and Shirley Lorraine James. He graduated from Burley High School in 1967.

Dennis met the love of his life Dee Ann Bingham, and they were married Aug. 4, 1972. During their life together, they lived in Burley and raised six children. They enjoyed skiing, golfing, traveling, and working on their home and in their businesses together. In all areas of his life, Dennis demonstrated love for his eternal companion - even until his last moments with her.

He enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, and four-wheeling trips with his family. Dennis taught his children the importance of work. One of his favorite methods of teaching his children the value of work was to bring one of them along on his traveling business trips.

He was always active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After graduating from high school, he served three years and three months in the Southwest Indian Mission and learned the Navajo language. He served in many church callings. A few of his favorites were working with the youth, teaching the Gospel Doctrine class and serving in the bishopric and on the high council. He also supported other LDS missionaries.

He was a hard worker his entire life. His first job was at a grocery store while he was in junior high school. After returning from missionary service, he worked at the J.R. Simplot Company for ten years. Dennis then started the first of his successful entrepreneurial ventures. He owned and operated D.J.’s Car Care and Quik Lube for about ten years. He sold that business and moved on to create Little Rock Lounger Co., to manufacture children’s furniture. He also owned various car dealerships. Most recently, he opened Riverview Urgent Care, fulfilling his dream to open a joint venture with his son.

His love of cars began when he was just a child with his first car being a hand-me-down from his grandfather. This was the beginning of the accumulation of many favorite cars throughout his life. Drag racing, open-road racing, and various car auctions and shows were just some of the ways he enjoyed automobiles.

He enjoyed being part of the community, and served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and participated in community service events.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Dee Ann Bingham James; his children, Dena (Andrew) Smith, Heather (Alex) Judd, Candace (Jared) Hobson, Crystal (Mike) Wucinich, Jenna (Todd) Page, and Kyle (Sydney) James; his grandchildren, Karlee, Layton, Maisey, Olivia, Jackson, Kya, Cooper, Hallie, Tinsley, Jakobi, Quentin, Ava, Sophia, and Madyn; his parents, Emerd and Shirley (Harris) James; and his siblings, Gary (Anna) James, Mike (Mary) James, Bruce (Guylia) James, Kenneth James, Gayla (Mike) Staker.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Pella LDS Church, 160 W. 400 S., of Burley, with Bishop Trent Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Pella Cemetery.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, May 29, at Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorial contributions, in honor of Dennis, may be made to the LDS Missionary Fund.