James R Brinton, 86

Our Lord and Savior called James R. Brinton, 86, home to heaven on March 12, 2020, after an aneurysm rupture. Jim was born July 21, 1933, in Libby, Mont., to Harry and Grace Brinton. He grew up in Montana with his family of five siblings and has called Coeur d’Alene home since 1967.

Jim served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force in Greenland, France and Germany. Among his duties were radio repair and communications. He went on to work for Western Electric and the Spokane Sheriff’s Department as a deputy. After meeting the love of his life on a blind date, he married his sweetheart of 62 years, Patricia Jean Cram, in 1957, in Gig Harbor, Wash. He decided to join Pat in being an RN, with the end goal becoming an anesthetist.

He succeeded by being the first male nursing student in the program and went on to graduate from Albany Medical Center in New York in anesthesia. After a full career of balancing hospital calls and his family, he retired in 2004.

His love for his family was without measure. His heart was full when family was together. Holiday gatherings, family celebrations and memories of lake days on his pride and joy, the “Off Call,” were among his favorites. He also enjoyed snow skiing, hunting, fishing in Alaska and collecting unique, classic, and, well ... cars in general. His ‘61 Cadillac and Model A were two of his most loved collections.

He and Pat enjoyed touring the west coast in their RV, visiting national and state parks. He loved the camaraderie of gathering around the campgrounds with fellow snow birds and “shootin the breeze.” Visiting Alaska and Israel were two of his favorite travels. He spent a good portion of his down time researching military history, his own family heritage and many hours reading God’s word.

He was a man of great faith. Faithful to God, country and family. He and Pat were a wonderful example of marriage as God intended, and an ever-present influence to his children and grandchildren. Jim lived life with a positive attitude and made friends along every path of his life journey. He is loved deeply by his family and admired by friends and will be missed beyond words.

One of his favorite verses was John 14:3, “I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.” And 1 Corinthians 2:9: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Jim is survived by his “lovely bride,” Patricia; their four children: Lynne Brinton Huffman, Michelle K Brinton, Deanna Rae Underwood and Eric James Brinton: their eight grandchildren: Rachelle, Ryan, Kailee, Jessica, Stacie, Hannah, Amanda and Chase. They were also blessed by six great-grandchildren, with a promise of more to come!

Information about Jim’s summer memorial will be posted at a later date.

“We so greatly appreciate all the love and support we have received.” — The Brinton Family

Please visit James’s online memorial at https://www.english funeralchapel.com/