James B. Simpson

James Blaine (Jim) Simpson, 85, passed away as a result of a car accident in Crown Point, New York on Saturday February 8th, 2025. Jim was born to George E and Mary (Lambert) Simpson, Sr on July 23, 1939 in Ticonderoga, NY.

Jim grew up in Mineville loving and excelling in many sports. He especially loved basketball and softball. He spent many days playing softball in the field of his family home on Joyce Road with his brothers and neighborhood friends. He was a Red Sox fan from his youngest years to the end of his life. Stories of his pet crow, CoCo, have been told and retold over the years to members of his family who were too young to have lived through the experience of having CoCo fly to Mineville High School looking for Jim or to see CoCo flying around the baseball field yelling “Play Ball! Play Ball!”.  Jim also spent many long days hunting with his father and brothers. His Dad gave him the nickname “Ace” because he was such a good shot and the last deer that his Dad got before his death was with Jim.

As an adult Jim enjoyed Chess, Pinochle, Darts, Bowling and Golf. Jim was an extremely creative man. He was always coming up with ways to “improve” things, which often resulted in something broken being fixed, or used for a different purpose and a bucket of extra parts that weren’t really needed. He enjoyed team sports, playing cards with friends and joking with people, no matter where or under what circumstances.

Jim is survived by his wife Deborah(Carr) Simpson; his daughters Tina Bureau(John) of Queensbury and Marlene Simpson of Mineville; his grandchildren Benjamin Kordziel, Nicholas Kordziel(Ashli), Chelsea Jones(Bryan Fernades), Jenna Clifford(Cody) and Mara Bureau(Andrew Pawlin); seven great grandchildren; his brother Howard Simpson(Kathy) of West Hebron, his sister Mary Beth Mandy(David) of Mineville; sister-in-law Joyce Simpson of Schenectady; brothers-in-law Rollin(Bub) Carr of Port Henry and Robert(Linda) Carr of Boonville, NY; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, his brother George Simpson, Jr., an infant sister Ellen Annette Simpson and his brother-in-law Michael Carr.

Jim graduated from Mineville High School in 1958 and joined the Army in 1959, serving for two years. Later, he worked for GE in Connecticut, Republic Steel in Mineville, earned an Associate’s Degree from NCCC and served 18 years as a CO for the NYSDOC at Moriah Shock. 

Jim and Debbie never went anywhere without their Yorkies, Zipper and Benson. Zipper passed away in the car accident with Jim, and Debbie and Benson will miss them.

There will be no services. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

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