James "Jay" Albert Raftery, Jr.

James Albert “Jay” Raftery, Jr. 82 of Coeur d’Alene, former Clark Fork resident, passed away Monday, January 27, 2014 at his home. Memorial services will be conducted on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 11:00 am in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel with Dale Coffelt officiating. Jay was born in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska on August 11, 1931, the son of James A and Ruth Raftery. As a child he moved to Caldwell, Idaho attending school in Caldwell, Id and Cascade, Id; graduating from high school in Shoshoni, Wyoming. He joined the US Navy, serving in Korea and during the Vietnam era. On May 21, 1953 he married Louise Hummitsh in Sandpoint, Idaho. Following retirement from the Navy he moved to Clark Fork, Idaho. He completed Barber College in Spokane, WA and barbered in Clark Fork and for Vern’s Barber Shop in Sandpoint, ID. For a time he served as the Clark Fork City Clerk. He became a purchasing agent for the US Forest Service working in North Idaho and Montana. He later moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, continuing his work for the US Forest Service. For 12 years he was a “snowbird” spending winters in Yuma, AZ where he enjoyed golf and walking. Jay was a longtime, and loyal, member of the VFW. Jay is survived by his wife, of 60 years, Louise in Coeur d’Alene, ID; three children Teresa in Clark Fork, ID; Nancy in Dover, ID Jim in Clark, Fork, ID; and a sister Mary Ann Higgins in Boise, ID. Also surviving are four grandchildren, six great grandchildren nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Glenda and a grandson Michael Malley.