James “Jim” Benjamin Cooksey, was born on Jan. 7, 1925 in Walnut Grove, Mo. and passed away July 18, 2010 in Sun City, Calif.

Jim was the youngest of five children. Jim enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and served throughout World War II on the destroyer USS Hilary P. Jones DD-427. The USS Hilary Jones saw much action throughout the war and was awarded the “Navy Unit Commendation.” Jim’s ship is visible in the famous photos of the Japanese Surrender aboard the USS Missouri.

After his service in the Navy Jim took advantage of the GI Bill and obtained his commercial pilot’s license and worked several years as a crop duster. After relocating to Los Angeles, Calif., Jim worked on some of the first-generation computers for IBM with the Rocket Development Programs in New Mexico. Jim also made a living installing alarms and eventually opened his own company “Alta Sierra Alarm.” Jim also served as a reserve police officer for the Palos Verdes Police Department. During the 1960s after many camping and fishing trips with his wife Josephine, they became very fond of Lake Isabella. Jim and Josephine purchased their home in Lake Isabella in 1975 and upon retiring in 1989 resided in Lake Isabella full time. While living in Lake Isabella, Jim was member of the VFW and the Elks. Jim also attended Mountain View Baptist church with his wife Josephine.

Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife Josephine in April 2007 and son Seymour Cochran in February 2010. Jim is survived and will be dearly missed by his children, Vivian Cooksey-Parker, Olga Katherine Ray, Lee Cochran, Cathy Curry, Deborah Newell and his 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday, July 31 at 1:00 pm at Sierra Mortuary & Funeral Home on Lake Isabella Blvd in Lake Isabella, California. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jim’s name to Mountain View Baptist Church on Erskine Creek Road in Lake Isabella.