Mr. James Richard "Jim" Bush

James Richard Bush, 90, passed away peacefully in his home Saturday. May 23, 2026. He was born in Silvertown, November 13, 1935 to William Carlton and Iva Lou Revis Bush.

Proudly born to hardworking textile Martha Mill workers, he grew up in Silvertown Village and lived there until he left for college. He would often boast of his idealized childhood; meeting up with friends a short walking distance away at the movie theatre or at the sandlot baseball field. He also often fondly recalled having a father whom he nearly worshiped who began teaching him about the woods and water from toddlerhood which developed a strong love for hunting and fishing.

Jim attended and graduated from R.E. Lee High School in 1954 where he excelled academically and athletically. There he was a star quarterback, center in basketball, and was a first basemen for the baseball team. It was also at R.E. Lee during a science lab where chemistry sparked between him and a crush who eventually asked him out during TWIRP Season. Later, that beautiful woman, Joan Colquitt, became his wife.

After graduation he attended Auburn University on the co-op plan where he would study for a trimester and then take off a trimester to work, save funds and pay his tuition. It was during a rotation when he was not enrolled in college and was employed at the Martha Mill that he was drafted into the US Army where he served in the pentagon as a cryptographer. Upon graduating with a Forestry Science degree, he embarked on a career in forestry that would prove to be rewarding and fruitful. He was an area manager and superintendent for Great Southern Paper Company until the company merged and he decided to enjoy an early retirement by moving to Libby, Montana! It wasn't long before he found his way back to his passion, working for the U.S. Forest Service. The 25 years that he and his wife spent in Montana were some of the best years of their life. Gardening, fly fishing, hunting game from deer to pheasant, coaching tennis, and building houses for Habitat for Humanity was how he spent much of his time there. He enjoyed living on the Kootenai river and immersed himself with the knowledge of native wildlife. He became an expert at tying flies and liked to change them up depending on season, time of day, or what he was fishing for. He and Joan would pack a year worth of visiting, hiking, fishing, sightseeing, floating down the river and laughter into 2-3 weeks of his granddaughters annual summer trip. It was always the highlight of his year.

He strived to succeed, and meticulously doing his best in everything he attempted was carried throughout the entirety of his life; whether it was pursuing fitness, building furniture in his shop, planting his garden, or writing a letter with perfect penmanship. He used the King's English as an art form and could paint pictures with words or phrases. He was able to express himself in a way that entertained and enlightened, especially on paper where he was a gifted writer and created intricate stories for his grandchildren with characters he made up.

Jim and Joan returned home to Thomaston in 2015 where they enjoyed the company of lifelong friends they made in childhood like Fred Kirkland, Benny Hammond, Jerry Rogers, Jerry McDonald, Gary Miller and Perry Hamlet. He liked to take his "Florida Girls" on rides where he showed them places like the Flint River or Potato Creek and told them countless stories from his youth.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of nearly 68 years, Joan Colquitt Bush, a son Mark (Elizabeth) Bush, a daughter Julie Bush Summerlin, grandchildren Victoria Summerlin, Ashley (Dalton) Buxton, Hannah (Austin) Grooms , Abigail (Austin) Alvarez, Morgan Bush, Dixie (Matt) Summerlin, honorary Grandchildren Carly, Cyrus, Cree and Colin Maloney, three great grandchildren Ridge Buxton, Everett Alvarez, and Margaret Grooms, as well as a dearly loved baby brother Bill and his wife Mike Bush, and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his son Jack Eric Bush, two Yellow Labrador Retrievers and many a good mutt.

Funeral services to honor and celebrate the extraordinary life of Jim Bush will be held on Thursday, May 28, at 2:00 PM, at Fletcher-Day Funeral Home. Rev. Ted Kandler will officiate and interment will follow at South View Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Fletcher-Day Funeral Home.

Fletcher-Day Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.