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James Phillip (Creation) Haire of Cowley, Wyoming, was called home on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, from the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell, at the age of 84.
James was born in Greene County, Tennessee, on April 18, 1936, to James and Maggie Haire. He grew up with three sisters, Edna, Libby, and Joyce. James (Jimmy) married the love of his life Shirlee Mae Harris on April 30, 1955, in Bloomfield, Michigan. Together they had five children, four boys, and one girl.
Jimmy worked as a heavy equipment owner-operator for 43 years and was an active member of the Local 12 Operating Engineers Union for 65 years. Jimmy retired from the union in 1999 and moved to Cowley with his beloved wife Shirlee. Even after retiring you could always find Jimmy running his water truck in downtown Cowley or working on his equipment in his yard.
Jimmy always knew how to make you smile and bring laughter. He was well known at Cowtown Cafe, where you could find him most mornings enjoying his coffee and visiting with his good buddy Jim Dugger and others. Jim loved to visit the Merc where he would usually get his pop and make conversation with whomever was around. He also enjoyed visiting the Cowley Post Office where he would visit with his buddy, postman Jack. Jimmy was great at making friends wherever he went and was known well for his great smile and a great sense of humor. Those who knew him knew he loved a good prank and took pride in “getting um good.”
Jimmy loved his family and spending quality time with them at family gatherings. Fishing, camping, playing pool, horseshoe, cards, and cornhole were many of his favorite activities with his family and friends. Jimmy also enjoyed going fishing with his buddy, Jim Dugger, and taking his lovely wife of 65 years, Shirlee, on camping trips in the mountains.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his father James Clark Haire, his mother Maggie Belle Ward, son Jeffrey Craig Haire, sisters Joyce Lakes and Edna Persinger, and great-granddaughter Addison Rae Padilla.
Jimmy is survived by his wife Shirlee Haire of Cowley; sons, Phil Haire of Devore, California, Jerry (Maria) Haire of Apple Valley, California, and Jack (Cherie) Haire of Powell; and daughter Janet (Haire) Knapp and Tom of Cowley; Aunt Belle (Ward) Peters of Ohio; sister Libby (Haire) Reece of Ohio; 19 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A private family graveside service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Cowley Cemetery. The family plans on having a community celebration of life on Saturday, April 17, 2021, in Cowley. Details will be released when location and time are decided closer to date.
The Haire family would like to say thank you for the love shown during this difficult time, for all the meals prepared, cards written, flowers sent, calls, and prayers.
