James Mann

James Mann passed away on Monday, June 20th, at the age of 86. Son of Vernon and Ruby he was born February 16, 1936 on Grizzle Ridge Road. In his younger years he was active in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. After serving in the army, he attended The Ohio State University. While there, he met the woman who made him believe in love at first sight, Barbara Betsch. They married in 1962. Jim graduated with a degree in Rural Sociology. With that degree, he naturally worked a wide variety of jobs. He may have harvested crops or repaired a refrigerator for your grandparents, taught your parents in school or built them a house, or you may have seen him in your yard reading the water meter.

His true avocations were always farming and woodworking or “making sawdust” as he referred to it. If Jim saw a tractor he admired, he could, and usually would build a perfectly scaled model of it. He was a proud and active member of the Farm Bureau and the Monroe Soil and Water Conservation Board for many years.

In addition to his wife Barb and canine cohorts, Olive and Ellie May, Jim is survived by his children Mike, Marcia (Kevin McLinden), Tim, and Ben (Heather), sisters Shirley Smith, Norma Moore, and Marilyn (Jim) Simmons, grandchildren Caleb, Addison, Connor, Ash (aka Liam), and Calvin, many nieces and nephews, an odd assortment of cousins, and former daughter-in-law Krista Petty Mann.

Friends will be received from 10 a.m. until time of Memorial Service at 12 noon Friday July 1, 2022 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 303 S. Main St. Woodsfield, Ohio with Pastor Christy Thomas officiating.  Arrangements by Bauer-Turner Funeral Home Woodsfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the organization that provided Jim and Barb several loyal dogs Belmont County Animal Rescue League, 41981 National Road, Belmont, OH 43718 or St. Paul’s Caring Ministry c/o St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 303 South Main St., Woodsfield, OH 43793.

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