James A. Stuart

James A. Stuart Stuart passed away March 22, 2010, with his daughter, Louise, by his side. Until his death at age 86, “Big Jim” was a teller of tall tales and a twinkle-eyed punster with a hearty handshake and a ready laugh.

Jim served on the submarine USS Toro in World War II, then married Betty McDonald of Fountain Valley in 1946. They raised three daughters in Newport Beach, and owned Jim’s Muffler Service on Pacific Coast Highway, and later on Old Newport Boulevard. Jim was an accomplished competitive target shooter and was well-known as the general manager of South Coast Gun Club. Jim and Betty lived in North Idaho from 1969 until Betty’s death in 1986, after which Jim was a “snowbird” living in Baja, Calif., and Idaho until he settled in Mission Viejo in 1998.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Harriet Goodwin (Lynn) of Quilcene Wash., Louise Stuart (Craig Davis) of Newport Beach, and Eileen Thornburgh (John) of Boise, Idaho; his granddaughter Kristin Flo, of Shelton, Wash.; his grandson Eric Flo (Jennifer) and great grandsons Michael and Sean, of Olympia, Wash.

Jim rests in peace in our beautiful Pacific Ocean. His ashes are surely spelling out “So far, so good,” a testament to his eternally optimistic spirit.