Born July 24, 1954, at the Stoll Hospital in West Plains, to Roe and Mabel Osborn Fish. James Bartlett Fish was born July 24, 1954, at the Stoll Hospital in West Plains, to Roe and Mabel Osborn Fish, the youngest of their four children. At the time of his death Jim was 51 years old.
In September 1980 he was married to Joanna Romans and is survived by their two sons, James Grant Fish of West Plains, and David Bartlett Fish of Springfield. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Joanna of Springfield, his long-time companion Cindy Beach Brown, his sister Joyce Lakey, a sister and brother-in-law Helen and Bill Cooper, all of Mountain Grove, a sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Duane Collins of Vanzant, and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, other friends and relatives.
Jim is preceded in death by his father and mother, his stepfather and a half brother.
Jim grew up at Twin Bridges, and attended Dora elementary and high schools, graduating with the class of 1972. He never forgot his classmates and often spoke of the good times they had shared.
He loved to deer hunt with the old gang that used to gather and hunt every deer season at Vanzant.
He was a truck driver most of his adult life and was an instructor for a time. He continued to drive until he became disabled from a back injury several years ago.
In the last few months Jim began to have more health problems. He was fortunate to find a caring physician who was trying to move Jim into position for a liver transplant. Jim made trips to Columbia, and to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis in pursuit of this. However, new complications developed and Jim found himself in St. Johns Hospital with some decisions to make. After a very frank talk with his doctor, Jim made his own decision to let go of the pain and suffering and leave the final decisions up to God. Jim passed away at 5:20 p.m. on Friday Oct. 7, 2005.
