James 'Jim' Ryan Barrett, 44
James “Jim” Ryan Barrett, 44, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018.
James was born on April 15, 1973, in Kalispell to Jack and Shirley Barrett. James was a longtime resident of Columbus, Ohio, but recently moved to Georgia only months prior to his passing.
James was preceded in death by his father, Jack Barrett; and his grandparents, Joseph and Therese Barrett, and John and Lottie Mikalson.
He is survived by his mother, Shirley Barrett; four sisters, Wendy Boll, Jackie Knox, Connie Tuman and Dee Dee Daus; six brothers, Tony Barrett, Stan Foy, Pat Barrett, Mike Barrett, John Barrett and John Roedel; and many nieces and nephews.
James attended Evergreen School and graduated from Flathead High School in 1991. He went on to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, participating in a student exchange in Mexico and graduated with degrees in accounting and Spanish in 1996. James then earned his Master of Professional Accountancy from Montana State University in 2005. Then James earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation and later specialized in taxation during his accounting career in Columbus.
Growing up in the Flathead Valley, James enjoyed skiing at Big Mountain, snowboarding at Blacktail Mountain, wakeboarding on Flathead Lake, and playing soccer and tennis. James also played his trumpet. James accomplishments in sports continued as he spent many seasons playing and traveling on softball teams in Columbus and annually attending the Pendleton Round-Up in Oregon.
During all these experiences from a youthful age he valued, appreciated and enjoyed his family and circle of friends both in the Kalispell-Somers area and Columbus.
James was always a character and loved to make people laugh. James had a kind heart and a quick, wicked sense of humor and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
“Jim, we can no longer see you with our eyes or touch you with our hands. But we will feel you in our hearts forever.”
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory, 525 Main Street, Kalispell, followed by a reception and lunch at the Buffalo Hill Golf Course.
In lieu of flowers, the family desires that donations be made to a charity of your choice. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for James’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view James’s tribute wall.