James "Jim" McVay was born on Feb. 12, 1937, in Yarrow, Mo., and died on Nov. 7, 2016, in Klamath Falls, Ore. Jim moved from Missouri as an infant, settling in Malin, Ore., with his parents and older brother Ron. Dad played football as a guard for the Malin Mustangs in high school and worked on the family's farm throughout his younger years. He met and married Sharon Rose Mathers of Klamath Falls in 1958. They had just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on Nov. 6. Jim was a member of the Oregon Army National Guard. He attended and graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology in the mid-1970s with an associate's degree in applied sciences. He was an excellent student and graduated with honors. Greatly enjoying the outdoors, he farmed in Malin for 17 years, then worked as a heavy equipment operator building roads in the woods for Weyerhaeuser Co. until his retirement. He was a member of the Malin Chamber of Commerce and the Malin Volunteer Fire Department. As a young man, he was a member of the group that started the lighting of trees at Malin Park for the Christmas season, which continues today. Dad was an amazing and creative artist with stained glass. He was an avid cyclist, logging over 50,000 miles on his last red recumbent bike that was often seen on the basin roads with his bright yellow helmet and red flag. Dad had great fun with his three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom he deeply loved. Especially memorable were the yearly Fourth of July water balloon fights that dad would initiate with the grandkids. He would sit back and watch with a big grin as hundreds of balloons were smashed among shrieking grandkids, who loved every moment of it. Jim is survived by Sharon, his wife of 58 years; older brother, Ron McVay and his wife Barbara; daughters, Stephanie and Elice; grandchildren, Lindsay Moore, Christopher Metler, and Caroline; and great-grandchildren,Caitlyn, Madison, Jaiden, Samantha, Cameron and Alexis. He is also survived by nephews, Mike, Matt and Jeff McVay; cousin, Wayne Meek; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Carl "Stub" and Ruth McVay; younger brother, David McVay; aunt and uncle, Earl and Lilly McVay; cousin, Elizabeth Meek; and aunts, Ruth Cooper and Leeta Halley. A private family gathering will be held on Dec. 3, 2016. A celebration of dad's life will be held next summer 2017 at Malin Park. There will be a barbecue, picnic with stories of dad, and bike riding around the park wearing favorite silly hats of dad's. "We love you dearly and will hold you in our hearts always." Davenport's Chapel of the Good Shepherd, directors, at 2680 Memorial Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, 541-883-3458, is in charge of the arrangements.