Obituary of James L. Meade

James Louis "Jim" Meade died on Friday, May 5, 2025, after a long, happy life of service to others and his family. He was born on July 5, 1931, and grew up in Jamestown, New York. Jim graduated from University of Minnesota and served in the U.S. Army, after which he started his career in Tillamook, Oregon with the YMCA. He transferred to the YMCA in Great Falls in the early 1960s to lead recreational programs, introducing the city’s young people to the outdoors. He took many campers on extended bus trips, including to the Canadian Rockies and New York City, and often heard from those children in later life. He met and married Violet Wallworth-Henderson in Great Falls and embraced her three sons with pride. He was an entrepreneur in Great Falls, operating a successful restaurant and becoming a certified public accountant. He was known as one of the "Hardee Boys," a group of retirees that met at Hardees to plan charity efforts and drink coffee. He continued to lead people to enjoy the outdoors as a canoe instructor for years with the Medicine River Canoe Club and the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program. Following Vi's death, he met and married Phyllis Friesz and gained a daughter in the deal. We expect that he has caught up with his parents, Horace and Myrtle; as well as sons, Greg and Giles; and great-great granddaughter, Trinity Sky in heaven. His family is waiting to see him again, including wife, Phyllis; daughter, Leona; son, Gary and daughter-in-love, Lynette; and the entire Henderson family, including grandchildren, Becky, Diane, Kimberly, Greg, Kevin and Garth. Also surviving are 15 great grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; a special niece, Tana Schweigert Green; along with daughters of his heart, Diane Hill, Lisa Skov, and Janel Chamberlain. A celebration of life will be held at Christ Methodist Church at 2900 Ninth Avenue South in Great Falls on July 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Those wishing to honor Jim can continue his legacy of serving others, or donate, in lieu of flowers, to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at 4201 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT, 59405 or Christ United Methodist Church, PO Box 6303, Great Falls, MT, 59406. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralhome.com.

Obituary of James L. Meade

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