CRAFTSBURY – In the afternoon of October 3, James Edward Maxfield of Craftsbury died at the age of 66 of heart failure. His last weeks he was surrounded by love from his family and friends.
James, better known as Jim, was born in 1955. His parents Jackulene and Elmer Maxfield owned and operated Dot’s Restaurant in Irasburg for over 25 years. He has two older siblings, Janet and Christopher (Elmer) Maxfield. He spent his childhood years alpine skiing, water skiing and sailing and created many found memories with his many cousins. In high school he worked at his family’s restaurant, enjoyed deer hunting, and snowmobiling. He graduated in 1973 from Lake Region. Jim married his wife Janice on May 19, 1974, and raised four girls together: Jasmin Leblanc, Melissa Pelkey, Ashley Maxfield and Katelyn Bushey. He has eight grandchildren: Makayla, Hunter, Issiah, Skye, Jacquelyn, Connor, Zach, and one on the way, and two great-grand children.
Jim founded his own roofing company, The Roofmeisters, in 1975 and served his community with skilled and reliable roofing work. He was done countless roofs over the years, from schools, ski resort buildings, residential, and many other commercial buildings throughout Vermont.
When Jim wasn’t running his business, he spent his years coaching alpine ski racing at Burke, and even started a USSA/FIS racing program at Lyndon Outing Club in the early 2000s. He also coached softball, and soccer and spent many years as an official soccer referee and official umpire. He was also a ski patroller at Jay Peak Resort for over 30 years, serving as a mentor to many patrollers throughout the years. He was a vital part of the Jay Peak community and an irreplaceable force within Jay Peak ski patrol.
In the more recent years Jim slowed down from coaching and enjoyed his time at his and his wife’s camp on Lake Parker. He enjoyed family time sitting outside around the campfire and many Sundays kayaking, relaxing in his hammock and playing pickup softball down the road at his friend Dennis’s field.
Jim had a wonderfully caring heart. He was generous, supportive and liked to joke. He was the main caretaker for his elderly father, Elmer, and always found ways to help all of his family members and friends, whether it was buying them a car, offering them a job, giving loans, donating time to help fix something, or other countless ways he continuously helped others.
A celebration of life was held in his honor courtesy of Jay Peak Resort and Jay Peak Ski Patrol. The family would like to formally thank the Jay Peak family for their generosity. Also, a heartfelt thank you to the 150-plus family and friends that came to honor him that day and to the ones that were with us in spirit. James will be forever loved and forever missed.
