James Elden Tarke

James Elden Tarke passed away July 7, 2017, in Yuba City, CA, at 82 years of age. Jim was born the first child of Elden and Anna Tarke on August 7, 1934, in Marysville, CA. Jim was a lifelong Sutter County resident and farmer. He attended West Butte School, Butte Slough School, Sutter Union High School, and UC Davis. While in college Jim was on the UC Davis varsity football team where he played offensive tackle and was an active member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. Upon graduating from UC Davis Jim joined the US Navy "Sea Bees" where he completed a tour in the Philippines and Adak, Alaska. Jim returned in 1958, and married his high school sweetheart, Claireen. They made the Sutter Buttes their home, farming and raising three children Susann Tarke, Stephen (Debbie) Tarke, and Shelley Darrough. While living in Sutter County Jim remained active in the Meridian Methodist Church, Grace Baptist Church of Yuba City, Masonic Lodge, Western Sacramento Valley Shrine, Meridian Volunteer Fire Department and Meridian Lions Club. He also served on the Brittan Elementary School board for 10 years while his children attended. Jim was an incredible businessman, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He took pride in being a 5th generation farmer and was always interested in the latest agricultural technologies. This made him a better farmer and inspired responsible farming for generations to come. Jim was passionate about his family and agriculture. He dreamt of keeping the tradition of family farming alive in our community. Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, their three children, eight grandchildren; Jared Hulbert, Andrew (Ashley) Hulbert, Brett (Rhiannon Wolford) Hulbert, Erica (Jonathan Holguin) Hulbert, Alison Tarke, Michael Tarke, Jennifer Tarke, and Dawn Darrough; and two great-grandchildren, Jordan Holguin and Kendall Hulbert. Jim was preceded in death by his brother Douglas 'Kermit' Tarke and parents Anna and Elden Tarke. A viewing will be held at Ullrey Memorial Chapel, in Yuba City, on Thursday, July 13, 2017, from 4-7pm. Services will be conducted at First United Methodist Church (3101 Colusa Hwy., in Yuba City) on Friday, July 14, 2017, at 11:00 am. Following a graveside memorial at Sutter Cemetery in Sutter, California. The family have asked that those who wish to honor his memory do so by donating to the following organizations: Meridian Methodist Church (1121 2nd St., Meridian, CA 95957), Shriners Hospitals for Children of Sacramento (2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817), or Sutter Youth Organization (PO 231, Sutter, CA 95982).