James Houston "Jim" Wills

James Houston Wills ("Jim”), 74, of Glen Jean, Fayette County, “broke the shackles of sickness” and went home to be with the Lord on Friday, March 11, 2016, following a long illness.

He was a retired chief of health/ federal mine inspector with the Mine Safety & Health Administration, loving husband & father, avid bass fisherman, and one the best story tellers we have ever known.

Born November 18, 1941, he was the son of the late Robert Edward Wills and Goldie Harper Wills.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death brothers Edward Wills, Richard Wills, Beulah Aliff, Jewel Wriston, and Margaret Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patsy Wills. Also left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Karri Rogers of Dothan, Jamie Hogan of Fayetteville, Kimberly Gaglione of New Jersey, & Kathy Yore of Virginia; five grandchildren, Solomon, baby Olivia, Amanda, Joshua, and Michelle, and four great-grandchildren Tyler, Ava, Cayden, and Johnna; one brother, William “Bill” Wills; one sister, Clara Henry, many of nieces, nephews and cousins, and a multitude of beloved family and friends.

Jim was raised in Glen Jean, WV and graduated in 1960 from Mt. Hope High School.  He began his career working for the Mine Safety and Health Administration in 1961.  In 1962, he joined the United States Air Force.  Upon his return from duty, he would continue his work with MSHA and attend night school at Beckley College and West Virginia State while working his full time job.  As the son of a coal miner, he went on to become an advocate for miners’ safety working for the Department of Labor for 38 years.  In 1999, he would receive a Distinguished Service Award for his work.  He was dedicated to his family and his work, and left an example we will always strive to parallel.  He believed in his children and thought we should all know that the only limitations we had, were the ones we put upon ourselves.  Jim was a member of Raleigh County Bassmasters, New River Gorge Bassmasters, and Hawks Nest Bassmasters and he loved to teach the young and old to fish.

We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Jim during his 74 years and most of them were inferred by his many fishing related quotes.  You can never fish too much, have too much fishing gear, and you can never give your children too many memories to cling to should you precede them.  He left us with many memories, but he also left us with the comfort of knowing that he was redeemed.  We will see our father again.  When I asked others, what pearls of wisdom my dad had imparted them, I was not surprised to learn that there were more lessons to be inferred through fishing and applied to life.  He was quoted as saying “If you catch a fish every thousand casts, you are doing something good.”  What I took away from this tale was the lesson that it takes hard work to make progress and the same was true of bass fishing.  Another funny quote I heard was, “The next time you get a bite, lay carbon on it”.  Take what you want from that classic Jim Wills one liner, but I think it just makes good sense.

He will be missed by his family, friends, and fellow fisherman.  Funeral services will be held at 4:00 on Monday, March 14, at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill, West Virginia, with Pastor Richard Allen officiating.  Friends and family may call from 3:00 to 4:00 at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill.  Burial will follow at Williams-Argabright Cemetery, Packs Branch, WV.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Hospice of Southern West Virginia - http://www.hospiceofsouthernwv.org/ .  The family of Mr. Wills would like to thank the staff of UVA hospital and the Bowers Hospice House for the care and kindness they showed our loved one.

Online condolences may be sent via www.tyreefuneralhome.com .

Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill,