James Wilson Waite Jr, 82, passed away at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona, on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. James (Jim/Jimmy) was born in St. Johns, Arizona, on March 4th, 1939, to Emily Lucinda Bigelow and James Wilson Waite Sr. James graduated from Mesa High School in 1958 and married Josephine McElhaney on September 11, 1959, in the Arizona Temple. They had four children.
James was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and kind brother. James worked over 30 years in the drywall construction business. He worked at a very young age working in construction with his dad and brothers. And at one time he had his own drywall construction business. In his lifetime he lived in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. When he was younger, he worked in the mines and was a butcher for one of the local grocery stores. James loved to garden, was an avid genealogist and enjoyed watching western movies, especially John Wayne. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
James was preceded in death by; Winnie Annie Josephine (Josie) McElhaney (Wife), Deann Laura Arney (Daughter), and Joseph Cruz Maldonado (Grandson).
James is survived by; daughter, Debbie (Aaron) Maldonado; son, Kevin (Jenell) Waite; son, Troy (Jessie) Waite; James is additionally survived by 17 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
James is also survived by his brother, LaVerl Waite and sister, Linda (Roger Childers) Wood; sister in-law, Geri Waite; sister in-law, Brenda Waite; sister in-law, Julienne McElhaney; sister in-law, Cindy McElhaney.
The funeral service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1050 S. Hobson, Mesa, AZ on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 11:00 AM, , with a viewing starting at 10:00 AM. The interment will follow at the City of Mesa Cemetery.
I knew Jim in Junior High and High School. He was two years ahead of me, and I only knew him slightly. But I was well acquainted with Josephine (Josie) McElhaney, his wife, from the time I was just a toddler. I have a few pictures of me and Josie when we were young if the family would like to have them. Josie’s family and mine both lived in the Mesa Second Ward when we were young. Send me an email and I will send them to you electronically. Also, I was a Home Teacher to James’ mother, Emily, many years ago here in the Gilbert 6th Ward, where we still live. She was such a dear lady, and I loved her dearly. My heart goes out to Jim’s family. He was truly a good man.
Yes please feel free to reach out to me at kjwaite@gmail.com