John James Carr

John James Carr, known as "Jim" to his family, "J.J." to his friends and "Mountain Man" to his grandchildren and air traffic control brothers, passed away Sunday, July 29, 2007, at his residence in Anthon.

There will be no services. There will be a private family cremation. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel in Sioux City.

Born Oct. 4, 1938, Jim was the first of seven children born to Cy and Dorothy Carr. He attended St. Joseph's Catholic School in Anthon and Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956 and served honorably for 21 years attaining the rank of master sergeant. During his years of service he was stationed in California, Okinawa, North Carolina, Vietnam, Missouri, Iowa and Arizona. Upon retiring from the military, he went to work in civil service as an air traffic controller in Yuma, Ariz., where he resided for more than 30 years.

He was married to Nyla Erickson of Sioux City in 1958 until her death in 1982. He then married Anne Harrington of Yuma in 1985.

While in Yuma, he was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and American Legion. He also was a Grand Pu-Bah of the Gila River Chapter of the Arizona Mountain Men Society.

He will be remembered as the greatest storyteller of all time, for his quick wit and humor, his service to his country, his love of fishing and his love for his family.

He is survived by his wife, Anne; six children and their spouses, Jeff of Missouri, Jim and Angela of Yuma, Ariz., Craig of Ocheyedan, Iowa, Brad and Lynda Carr of Sioux City, Kelly and Jess Cook of Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., and Destry Carr of Yuma; two stepchildren, Les (Audra) Evans of Yuma and DeDe (Norm) Miller-Friend of Indiana; 15 grandchildren; his siblings and their spouses, Jerry and Petie, Jack, Joe and Mary, Jay and Beth Carr, Judy and Bill Lourens and Jenny (Paul) Hensel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cy and Dorothy Carr; his first wife, Nyla Erickson Carr; and a granddaughter, Amanda Cook.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Siouxland, Sioux City.