| Notes |
- Marriage Notes: Info from Elmer Burns Lammon
General Notes: Note from wife, Catherine:
Born and raised in upstate New York, Jim was very talented in music. He excelled in his high school band, winning numerous awards playing the baritone horn. He could also play the trumpet and bass fiddle. He graduated from Mohawk High School in Mohawk, NY. He had always wanted to fly airplanes and, immediately upon graduation, he joined the Air Force. This was during World War II. He was assigned to Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, then on to Gunter Field, Montgomery, Alabama. While at Gunter, he played in the Air Force band and also a small band for squadron dances.
Jim was introduced to Catherine at a local skating rink by her girl friend, Cornelia Harper. Soon after they became engaged, Jim was transferred to Amarillo, Texas. They were engaged 10 months. The war ended and Jim was one of the first discharged. He came back to Alabama and married Catherine. They married at her parents' home with close friends and family attending on November 2, 1945.
Two days after the wedding, they left to live in Ilion, NY, where his parents, brother and sister lived. Jim went to work for the US Postal Service as a rural mail carrier. He filled in for Mr. Pett who had broken his back in an accident. When Mr. Pett came back to work, Jim and Catherine moved to Montgomery.
Jim's grandfather Haponski was a master craftsman in woodworking. Jim was good with his hands and decided to go to school to learn this craft. He worked for Weil's Antique Shop for several years. A Mr. Jones took Jim under his arm and taught him so much. Mr. Jones had been at the trade many years and was a true craftsman. Jim loved this work and after several years of apprenticeship he went to work for himself. He started to work out of his garage apartment next to his in-laws. (Catherine's parents built this garage apartment.) Later, Jim worked in the basement of his home and then to a rental building when business became better.
He became a master craftsman and could copy any antique or build any design that interior decorators presented. He was soon in great demand and acquired his own buildings for his work. He became a father in 1948 when Mike was born. He adored his son and they enjoyed a close personal relationship. Jim was an avid sportsman and he and Mike enjoyed fishing and hunting together. When Mike returned from college at Auburn University, he entered the business with his dad. This pleased Jim and also kept them close. Jim was a wonderful person – always thinking of others first. He was a great father and a wonderful husband. He and Catherine celebrated 43 years of marriage. He died three days after celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary.
Jim could ski well and was an excellent ice skater. He had many hobbies but his first love was flying. He belonged to the Aero Club and flew the club airplane frequently. He loved to fish and went on many trips with family and friends to fish. Jim loved to hunt and hunted all over the US and Mexico. Once he went on a six-week safari in Africa - something he had always dreamed of doing. He dreamed of going back and taking Mike with him. Jim was also a great photographer. He took courses at Auburn University at Montgomery and was good at it. He was the family photographer at every event.
Jim died of a massive heart attack November 5, 1989.
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1926 - 1989 (63 years)