Jim Phelps

Graveside Services for Jim Phelps of Crawford, Nebraska will be held Friday, November 12, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Crawford City Cemetery in Crawford, Nebraska.

James Carl Phelps was born May 7th, 1938 to Donna June Hamaker and James Quigley Phelps in Phoenix Arizona. Jim passed away at the Ponderosa Villa on November 8th, 2021. He was 83yrs old.

James enlisted in the United States Navy on June 30, 1955 and was honorably discharged in 1959. He worked on Aviation equipment and submarine chasers. He was married to Virginia “Corky” on December 30, 1966. The children they raised were Christi, Donna, Jimmy and Theresa Hudson. In 1987 Jim and Mary E “Ibet” Spray were married on June 24 at Fort Robinson State Park.

James was a member of the Elks in Chadron, VFW and American Legion, Eagles of Crawford where he served as Secretary and Vice President and Knights of Columbus member in Chadron. James served as a Crawford city councilman. He was an active member of the Nebraska Historical Society and Vice President for the Crawford Museum.

James traveled from California, Arizona and Washington to Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming, North Dakota and Missouri. His occupations were many, from professional house cleaning to construction. He was a heavy equipment operator as he served in the Civil Service in Wyoming. In 1974 James started with Boeing Company, as a heavy equipment operator and transported warheads and mobile crane operator for the President’s 747 in Wichita, Kansas with a secret clearance for 20 years. Retired from Boeing in 1995 and returned to Nebraska. Fort Robinson State Park was a favorite place for Jim to guide the tours of the park.

James was a person of facts and humor. He has kept a diary for years with artistic caricatures, as well as notebooks of cut out jokes, current events and political statements. He loved to watch the Civil War, Navy and history channels on his TV and computer. He was a very social person, gathering for coffee and lunches in downtown Crawford, as well as the love of auctions. He had a nickname for everyone.

Survived by Christie, Jimmy and Theresa Hudson. Marcella and Ronnie Thompson, Darci Kuhnel, Deana Murphy, Chad and Kris Kuhnel, neice Jeanie Wise and nephews, Jimmy and Rob Phelps.

Proceeded in death by his parents and a step-father William Blanton, brother Robert Q. in 2019 and sister-in-law Edie in 2005, both wives Corky in 1986 and Mary in 2021. See you in the buttes!

A memorial has been established for Ponderosa Villa or Crawford Historical Society and donations may be sent in care of

Chamberlain Chapel, PO BOX 970, CHADRON, NE 69337.

Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com