Duff, James Ellis
- Saturday, January 30, 2016
James Ellis Duff, a loving husband and father, died on January 29, 2016.
Born on October 12, 1934 at Fort Benning, Georgia, Mr. Duff grew up in Cusseta, Georgia, and served in the US Army during the Korean War. On November 3, 1957, he married his wife of 58 years, Ann Horne Duff.
Jim worked at Tom’s Foods, Inc., in Columbus, Georgia, for 35 years, retiring in 1993. A member of Edgewood United Methodist Church in Columbus, James Duff deeply loved God, his country, and his family. Three years ago, James and Ann moved to Chattanooga to be closer to their children.
His family will be forever grateful for the godly example and deep love he expressed to all throughout his life. He will especially be remembered for his affectionate humor and inclusiveness for all people.
During the years that his son, Dan, played baseball, he served as a youth coach at Sally Little League, Eastern Little League, and Eastern Babe Ruth League in Columbus. Later in life, he cheered for every team that Dan coached in football and baseball, most recently for Hixson High School football, where Dan Duff is the Wildcats’ head coach.
He took great joy in teaching his grandsons the art and safety of shooting firearms at his first retirement home in Box Springs, Georgia, as well as cheering from the stands at baseball games. Many Hixson Youth Athletic Association boys will remember him yelling, “Ducks on the pond!” as he cheered them on to score, and encouraging them to pack up quickly after games as he screamed, “Come on boys, let’s go to the Longhorn”! He also cheered for high school football, wrestling, softball, volleyball, and theatre teams that his grandchildren were involved in for many years.
“PawPaw,” as he was known to his grandchildren ,taught the kids he loved to dream big dreams…with Don he was going to build a world-class golf course, with Josh he was going to coach a winning football team, with Jim he would build commercial sky-scrapers, with Leslie he would buy a thoroughbred that would win the Kentucky Derby, and with Paige they would be stars in a Broadway play.
James Duff was preceded in death by his parents, Logan and Ida Mae Duff; brother, Thomas Duff; and sister, Peggy Simons.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Ann Horne Duff; daughter and son-in-law, Julie (Don) Franklin; son and daughter-in-law, Dan (Donna) Duff; grandchildren Don Franklin, Joshua Duff, Jim Franklin and fiancé Ivanny Gorski, Leslie (Brendan) Wall, and Paige Duff; sisters, Bernice D. Cruse and Margaret (Donald) Goodroe; brother-in-law, Butch M Gray; many nieces and nephews; as well as special friends and caretakers, Alvin and Glenda Armour, Yolanda and Eddie Brown, Melissa Rindler, Janet Johnson, Charlotte Bates, Natassja Tinker, Sue Rogers, and Pat Brownell.
A funeral service to commemorate his life will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2, in the chapel of Hamilton Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors.
The family will gather with friends on Monday, Feb. 1, from 4-7 p.m. and on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 10-11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services; 4506 Hixson Pike, 423 531-3975.