Obituary of James Durkee

A celebration of life for James Leslie Durkee will be held at Bring Funeral Home, 6910 E Broadway in Tucson at 1:00pm on Tuesday, March 7. A reception will be held at the Funeral Home immediately following the service. Jim died March 1, 2023 with his wife Anne, son Ed, and family by his side. 

Jim was born May 1, 1939 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a youth he excelled in gymnastics which became a life long interest. He was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and earned an athletic scholarship at Michigan State University, where he was an All-American gymnast and captain of the Big Ten Champion gymnastic team. He earned his master's degree at Western Michigan University. Upon graduation he became a teacher at Portage (MI) High School and coached the team to the state championship. He also had long, successful careers at Sears and Allstate.

He married Mary Beth (Collins) Durkee on June 16, 1962 and had three sons, Bob, Joe and Ed. After raising their boys in the Midwest, Jim and Mary Beth moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1988. He was widowed upon Mary Beth’s passing in 1998.

Jim married Anne (Kendrick) Durkee of Tucson, Arizona in 2002.  Jim was welcomed into Anne's family where he shared his love and compassion, his unique sense of humor, and showcased his physical feats of strength and agility.

Jim is survived by his wife Anne, his children Bob, Joe (Lana), and Ed (Janas); Anne’s children including Pam (Duane), Rhoda (Alan), Tom (Peggy), Stephanie (Bryon); his grandchildren Brian (Angela), Kimberly (Matt), Shelby, and Todd; Anne’s grandchildren including Linda, Steven (Katie), Meara, Joseph (Arielle), Sandra (Preston), Chaz (Josie), Phillip, Ross, Christia (Matt), Clayton and Sydney; and great-grandchildren Luke and Lauren; his brother Keith (Phyllis) and sister Victoria.

Jim was preceded in death by his brother Russ (Barb), sister Diane, and parents Victor and Estella.