James G. Kenyon died peacefully Sunday morning, Jan. 9, 2022, in the home that he built from the foundation up for his family more than 50 years ago.

He was 84.

Jim was born Feb. 12, 1937, the oldest of Gerald and Orytha (Dunn) Kenyon's four children.

After graduating from Windsor High School, Jim started out as a carpenter for Red Eastman, a West Windsor builder. With a natural eye for detail and years of hard work, he became a much sought-after cabinetmaker.

On Oct. 24, 1958, Jim married Patricia Lockwood, and they found an apartment in Claremont. Proud of his Vermont roots and not thrilled with having to buy a nonresident hunting and fishing license, Jim didn't let it be widely known that he'd moved across the border. It wasn't long before Jim and Pat were building their first of two homes in Brownsville.

Early on in his working days, Jim was hired by Trumbull-Nelson Construction to run the company's carpentry shop when it was in downtown Hanover. Later, another general contractor, E.R. Wiggins in Springfield, Vt., persuaded Jim to oversee its carpentry shop and job estimating business.

For many years, Jim worked 6 1/2 days a week. After finishing his full-time job on Fridays, he put on his carpenter's apron on Saturdays and Sunday mornings, building houses and doing remodeling work with a small crew of friends. It was this kind of work ethic that allowed Jim and Pat to put their two children, James Scott and Lori Ann, through college.

Jim, who was most at home when he had sawdust on his work clothes, eventually left Wiggins to strike out on his own. In 1978, he took on a partner to form Kenyon & Kelley Cabinetmakers. It wasn't long before they outgrew their small workshop in Reading, Vt., and purchased Brownsville's former schoolhouse. His wife joined the company, which at its peak employed a half dozen woodworkers, as its bookkeeper and office manager.

For Jim, the business couldn't have been more ideally located. It was next door to the West Windsor fire station, where he was a fixture for decades. He served as the volunteer fire department's chief for nine years and assistant chief for more than 25 years.

He helped out his hometown in many other ways as well. He served as West Windsor's emergency management coordinator, deputy fire warden and was a member of the town's zoning board. He was a trustee of the Brownsville Cemetery Association and the Campbell Fund, which allocates food, clothing and other essentials to needy residents.

In 2018, West Windsor officials honored Jim by dedicating the annual Town Report to him.

After building up a business that saw Kenyon & Kelley crafting kitchens and other custom-made woodwork throughout Vermont and New Hampshire, he retired in 2003. That left more time to spend at the camp on Bear Notch Road in West Fairlee that he bought with his brother Tom in the late 1990s.

Jim and Pat, who were married for more than 63 years, spent a good part of their summers at the camp, sometimes with their grandchildren, Nicholas and Madison, in tow. But come the second Saturday of each November, Jim and his longtime hunting buddies, including Frank Houghton, Ralph Johnson, Bob Thomas, Bill Young and his younger brother Tom, took up residence. Not many deer were shot (only one big buck by Tom, to be precise), but many meals and stories were shared. Jim's recliner was positioned so he could gaze at the photograph of an eight-point, 220-pound buck he shot in 1989 in the Northeast Kingdom. Jim liked to remind his friends that was one that didn't get away.

Jim's last couple years weren't easy. He battled Parkinson's disease and in December 2019, he suffered a minor stroke – if there is such a thing.

He fought until the end. In the final few weeks, he managed to rally whenever his family was around to assure them he still had his wits and sense of humor.

One day when his daughter, Lori, wasn't looking, he tossed a tennis ball at her just to show that Parkinson's hadn't robbed all of his strength. With the first winter storm approaching, he reminded his son, Jim, that it might be a good idea to start up the snow blower and "check the oil while you're at it." On Christmas morning, he thanked Pat for bringing him a cup of coffee but remarked it was a bit on the cool side.

Jim was predeceased by his brother Roger in 2020. Jim is survived by his wife, Pat; brother, Tom, and sister, Eleanor; his son, Jim, and his wife, Wendy, of Norwich; his daughter, Lori, of Port Ludlow, Wash.; two grandchildren, Nick and Madison, both of Boston, and their spouses, Michelle and Luke. He also made sure to not miss out on meeting his great-grandson, Andrew James, born in October, to Madison and Luke.

His family thanks his primary care physician, Dr. Laura Duncan, of Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Medical Center, and neurologist, Dr. Nathaniel Robbins, of Dartmouth-Hitchcock, for the excellent care and compassion they provided. A special thanks to his dentist, Dr. Robert Maxfield, of Claremont, who always found time to chat after an appointment and once commented that Jim was one of the few patients who declined Novocaine for any procedure.

Jim's family is also grateful for the care that Bitsy Harley provided in the last few months. He looked forward to Bitsy reading the newspaper paper to him in the morning.

The West Windsor Volunteer Fast Squad also went beyond the call of duty to help out Jim and Pat when needed. The nurses, Julie, in particular, at Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire at Hospice were appreciated for making sure Jim was well-cared for at the end. The staff at Knight Funeral Home was a big help in making arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice ( www.vnhcare.org ) or the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Department's equipment fund at P.O. Box 85, Brownsville, Vt. 05037.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 11AM at the Brownsville Pavilion in Brownsville, VT. Knight Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.