James "Jim" Tope

James Gerald Tope passed away peacefully at the age of 85 at his Careywood home on Saturday, October 11, 2014. Jim was born on April 3, 1929 to Roy Tope and Lois Gilstrap in Ft. Benton, Montana. In 1937, Jim’s family moved to Careywood where he attended the local one room school house and Sandpoint High School. In his late teens Jim started his truck driving career and he was a lifelong member of the Teamster’s Union. In 1967, he and his first wife, Francelle, along with their 3 daughters, moved to California. In 1980, he married his beloved second wife, Rose Ellen, and by 1990 Jim and Rose had retired and returned to Careywood, the place he had always called home. They realized their dream by building a log home on the very road where Jim grew up. Their home was always open to family and friends and they shared 26 years of happiness together; fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, dancing to country music, and entertaining their children and grandchildren. In recent years, Jim loved playing his 12-string guitar and swapping stories with his brother Ken, and his nephew Tim. He also loved Sundays, when he would take his dear friend, Louise Hale, to the Sagle Baptist Church, out to lunch, and to the jam sessions at the Sagle Community Hall. His family and community will always remember his kind, soft-spoken demeanor, and his subtle sense of humor. He will forever be loved and missed by his daughters, Elaine Tope, Shirley Salter and Teresa Tope; his brother Kenneth Tope; his 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; Rose’s children, Debra Howard, Terri Jeremy, Robert Franck, 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; his loyal dachshund, Doc, and numerous other relatives and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Lois, his wife Rose, his brother Robert, and Rose’s son Michael Franck and grandson Mack Howard. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2014. A service for the family will be held at 10:00am at the Westmond Cemetery and a service for all of Jim’s loved ones will be held at 3:00pm at the Sagle Victory Baptist Church, 602 Gun Club Road, Sagle.