James Edward McCauley was born in Fort Assiniboine, Alberta on August 9, 1932 to Len & Olive McCauley, the oldest of four children.
From Fort Assiniboine, AB, his parents moved to Mosside, AB and continued homesteading on the Earl Lownsbary Place, the NE 30-58-4W5, where siblings Beatrice, Lee, and Laura were born. James’ father, Len, served overseas from 1940 to 1945. James and his brother, Lee, helped on the farm, in their Dad’s absence. When their Dad returned, it was a few more years before James ventured out on his own at age 18.
On November 1, 1955, James married Joy Jochem of Milk River, AB. They had seven children, Marilyn, Kenneth, Allan, Warren, Ann, Barbara and Terry. They lived in Barrhead, Hinton, and Milk River AB. Later, they lived in Ymir, Trail, Valemont, Ladysmith, Chemainus and finally in Lac La Hache, BC.
In 1973, James married Susan Grigor of Bella Coola, BC and they had a son, David McCauley.
James worked at many trades, but mainly plumbing and heating. He thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing and fish conservation, which took him to many areas of Bella Coola, Bella Bella and Anahim Lake, BC. He was also a firearms instructor and even assisted as ambulance driver and attendant.
As James’ health failed and he divorced again, he moved to Quesnel, BC in 2001, where most of his family were. His enjoyment of being with his brother, Lee and sister Beatrice and many of his children was short lived, as he was forced to move to Prince George, BC, to receive hemodialysis care.
Despite his many health problems, he remained a positive person and loved the people he met and the families he had. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.