James Fowler

James B. Fowler, 80, of Chico, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, surrounded by family and close friends. A celebration of Jim's life will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011 at 6 p.m. at the Chico Elks Lodge. Jim was born and raised in Oakland, CA. He was a decorated Korean War veteran, serving in the Army. Jim returned home to raise a family in San Leandro, CA with his wife, Marilyn. The family moved to Chico in 1974. Jim purchased McClelland Air Conditioning in 1975. He married Fran Watson in 1984. He retired from McClelland Air Conditioning in 1993. For two years, 1981-1982, Jim served as President of The Valley Contractors Exchange. He spearheaded the construction of the Chico Plan Room, located on E. 8th St. in Chico. He was a proud member of the Chico Elks Lodge, where he spent countless volunteer hours coaxing sprinkler systems back to life, repairing the unfixable, always planning the next Elk's Crab Feed, and fretting the small details that distinguish the Chico Elks Lodge. Jim and his outdoor buddy, Gerald Hardesty fished and hunted across the Western U.S. and Canada. For nearly 30 years they conspired annual trips to the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers, Bloody Dick and Sheep Creeks in Montana; the Smith River, the High Lakes area above Sterling City; the Middle Fork of the Feather River in California. Jim spent many of of his childhood summers fishing and guiding on the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Jim is preceded in death by Fran Fowler. Jim is survived by his children, Gary (Lizanne) Fowler, Cindy (Craig) Lares, Don (Judy) Fowler; six grandchildren, Jamie and Jake Santulli, Patrick and Keri Fowler, Katie and Will Fowler; step-sons, Steve (Chris) and Ray (Pam) Watson; his companion late in life, Lori Paisley; his first wife, Marilyn Williams, who continued their friendship over the years; son-in-law, Steve Santulli with whom he shared a passion for all things John Wayne. Jim's greatest legacy will be the outdoors passion he instilled in his children, Gary, Cindy and Don A true Fowler family outing always involved shotguns or fly rods, and a great appreciation of a rainy south wind or seam water below a large riffle.