James Edward Mues, 82, passed away early Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, 2015 at Harney District Hospital.

Jim was born May 8, 1933 in Dalton, Cheyenne County, Neb. He was the second of two boys born to Edward and Emily Mues, joining his older brother, Max.

In 1938, Edward and Emily moved their family to Idledale, Colo., and then in 1940, the family moved to Derby, Colo., where Jim attended grade school and high school. He graduated from Adam’s City High School in 1951.

Following graduation, Jim joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea as a member of the 5th Field Artillery. He arrived in Korea shortly after the truce was signed, and spent much of his time driving jeep for various commanders and helping with South Korea’s reconstruction, participating in building churches, hospitals, and orphanages. Jim was honorably discharged in April of 1955 and returned to the Denver, Colo. area.

It was in Denver that he met and fell in love with Marcy Ziegler, and on Aug. 19, 1957, they were married. Over the next seven years, they welcomed their children, Dave, Jalyn and Scott, and settled into their home in Lakewood, Colo.

In 1969, Jim and Marcy decided to move their family to Burns, where they had bought property the prior year. Jim began working in the woods for Edward Hines Lumber Company, and during every break-up in the spring, he would build on to the home on Red Barn Lane. Eventually, Jim began working for the Edward Hines road crew as “the powder monkey,” a job he truly loved, and he was involved in the building of many roads throughout the forests Hines logged. During these years, Jim and Marcy were great supporters of their children, their children’s school, and the sports and activities in which they participated.

When the logging industry began its decline in Harney County and Edward Hines shut down, Jim moved on to construction, working for William Foster Construction and Harney Rock and Paving.

In 1988, Jim was involved in a serious trucking accident that prompted his early retirement from construction. But the accident did not slow him down, and he found great joy having a beer with his buddies, tinkering in his shop, completing various woodworking projects, and keeping his grandchildren busy.

Jim loved spending time after school with his grandchildren. In turn, Emily, Sarah, Dylan and Maggie loved keeping Grandma and Grandpa on the run. Jim and Marcy’s first great-grandchild, Silas, was born in 2013, and Silas’s sister, Quinn, joined the family in 2014. Family was, and continues to be, foremost in both Jim and Marcy’s hearts, and all were blessed to spend this last Christmas together.

Jim is survived by his wife, Marcy; his brother, Max and sister-in-law, Rayta Mues of Golden, Colo.; his son, Dave Mues and his wife, Debbie; his daughter, Jalyn Thompson and her husband, Jake; grandchildren, Emily (Mues) Johnson and husband, Devin, Sarah Mues, Dylan Thompson, and Maggie Thompson; his great-grandchildren, Silas and Quinn Johnson; his nephew, Dan; and nieces, Marla and Trudy; and the many friends he made throughout his life.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Emily Mues; father, Edward Mues; and son, Scott Mues.

Jim requested that no memorial service be held. In lieu of flowers, Jim requested that contributions be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Central Oregon, his favorite charity. Contributions can be mailed to LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, Oregon 97720.