James Allen Hamby, 70

James Allen Hamby was born on Oct. 10, 1950, to Alford and Minnie Hamby in Hampton, Va. and passed away on March 11, 2021. Jim's dad was from Coeur d'Alene, but met and married Jim's mother in North Carolina while stationed at Fort Bragg during WWII. After the war, Al and Minnie moved back to Coeur d'Alene, where Jim's two older sisters were born. When Minnie began to miss her family, Al moved his family back to North Carolina and Jim was born in Hampton.

After a couple of years the family moved back to Coeur d'Alene, where Jim's younger brother, Phil, was born. Jim's dad moved the family several times over the years, but they always stayed in Kootenai County. Jim was asked one time how he knew so many people and he said it was because he attended every grade school in the county! He lived in Post Falls, Rathdrum, on a farm on the Rathdrum Prairie, in Coeur d'Alene at Blue Creek, and Silver Beach.

He grew up knowing how to do farm work and to fix farm equipment. When he was a teenager, he started helping his dad on logging jobs. Jim loved going into the mountains and getting firewood and everyone who knew him joked about his "Hamby" campfires. He loved hunting and got his first elk when he was 12 years old.

When he was 16 he discovered motorcycles, which became a lifelong passion. He worked in Connell, Wash., all summer, running combines in order to save enough money to buy his first motorcycle. He had a natural ability for riding and started winning races around the area. He began to make a name for himself in the local racing scene and came to the notice of Coeur d'Alene Honda, which offered him a sponsorship. After high school graduation he went to work for CDA Honda as a motorcycle and power products mechanic. He had a long and successful racing career, winning the Huetter Championship five years in a row, the Pop Triber Memorial twice, the Montana State Championship, and the NW points awards with CMC. He also won the Smelterville Sourdough cross country race twice with a flat tire, and the Smelterville hill climb with a cast on his broken foot — but that's a story for another time.

Jim married Terry Sandau in Coeur d’Alene in 1972 and welcomed a daughter, Michelle, in 1974. He and Terry and their little girl moved to Post Falls in 1977, bought their home and welcomed their son, Jimmy, that same year. They spent many weekends at the races, camping on the family Coeur d’Alene River property, and enjoyed floating the river, picking huckleberries, fishing and trail riding. Jim also enjoyed trap shooting at the Hauser shooting range. He loved riding his ATV and liked to plow out the neighborhood driveways every winter.

Jim spent most of his working years at CDA Honda with a few years at DAW/Crown Pacific as a millwright. When the mill closed he went to work for Ted Burnside Construction until he retired.

He and Terry enjoyed many fun vacations and good times with all of their family and friends and Terry is so grateful for the love and caring from everyone.

Jim is survived by his wife, Terry; daughter, Michelle Salove and son-in-law, Chris; son, Jimmy and daughter-in-law, Kym; grandsons Austin, Byron and Carter; granddaughters Grace and Kate; four nephews and two nieces; brother-in-law, Mike Sandau (Emma); sister-in-law, Kathy Canning (Michael); sister-in-law, Bobbie Peterson (Rusty;) and father-in-law, Bob Sandau. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Linda and Paula, and brother, Phil.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hauser Lake Gun Club and to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.