Dorothy "Doe" James Clinton Dorothy L. James of Clinton, daughter of Albert Einan Jones and Gertrude Roberts Jones, passed away on Saturday, June 24 in Mountain Top, PA with her family by her side. Mrs. James was born in 1928 in Plymouth, PA, where her father was the postmaster, and graduated in 1950 with a degree in education from Pennsylvania State University. After a year of working as both a teacher and a big band singer in Maryland, she was married to David L. James in June of 1951 upon his graduation from the United States Naval Academy. Mr. James' first duty station was Pearl Harbor, where Mrs. James taught school from 1951 to 1953. Her first teaching position on Oahu was at the privately endowed Kamehameha School for Hawaiian children. She later taught at Pearl Harbor Elementary while working on her graduate degree at the University of Hawaii. During her time in Hawaii, she learned to surf and hula, and taught herself ? after several notable mishaps ? to drive a car. Between 1954 and 1966, the Jameses lived in Norfolk, VA, Rutland, VT, Syracuse, NY, Houston, TX, Washington, DC, Cleveland and San Francisco; in all of these locales, Mrs. James established friendships that have lasted a lifetime. In 1966, the family settled in Clinton. Mrs. James was an enthusiastic and ready volunteer in her community. She served on the board of the Kirkland Art Center and the Civic Music Society, was a member and officer of the Utica Symphony League and the Clinton Garden Club, served as president of the Clinton A Better Chance (ABC) program and the Clinton American Field Service (AFS) program, and spent many happy hours volunteering at the Kirkland Art Center Thrift Shop. Mrs. James was also active in cub scouting and girl scouting, was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Utica, and later of St. James Episcopal Church in Clinton. The Jameses are former members of the Yahnundasis Golf Club and the Skenandoa Club. Mrs. James enjoyed life's simple gifts: literature, music, gardening, Cape Cod beaches, interesting conversation, Penn State football games, grandchildren, a good laugh ? all were small things that added up to great pleasure for her. She felt lucky to be alive, and often said so. She had a great capacity for both mischief and mirth, and a special place in her heart for children, especially those who did not enjoy all the advantages her own children did. Mrs. James was unafraid to voice sometimes unpopular opinions, and believed persistently in the possibility of one person effecting positive change. Mrs. James leaves her husband of 55 years, Dave, at home in Clinton with their Springer spaniel, Major. She also leaves her children, son Stephen and wife Gayle, of Clinton, daughter Meg Averill and fiancé Sean Gosselin of Northampton, MA, and daughter Amy James and husband Robert Ford of Clinton; grandchildren Lindsay James of Hartford, CT, Cary James and fiancée Clea Hoskins of Saratoga Springs, Evan James of Clinton, Sam and Luke Averill of Northampton, MA, and Jake and Chloe Ford of Clinton; her niece Carol Johnson and husband, John, of Kingston, PA and their daughter, Meg and husband, Kent, of the Bahamas; sister-in-law Patsy James of Aiken, SC, and her "German son" and former AFS student Paul Gerhard Steinestel of Finkenweg, Germany. Mrs. James also leaves many friends - not only from Clinton, but from around the world - whose cards, letters, pictures and flowers so brightened her last several months. Aside from her parents, she was predeceased by one brother and three sisters. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, nurses' aides, and respiratory therapists for all of their kind attention to Mrs. James during her stays at St. Elizabeth Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, Kindred Care in Wilkes-Barre, PA and the Davis Manor Rehabilitation Center in Mountain Top, PA. Special thanks also to Cheryl Hecker and Joan Conklin of Waterville, who helped the family so much during this time. Memorial calling hours will be on Wednesday, June 28 from 4 until 7 PM at Heintz Funeral Home, 10 East Park Row, Clinton. A memorial service will be held later in the summer at the convenience of family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Clinton A Better Chance Program, the Kirkland Town Library or the Kirkland Art Center.