James was born on October 29, 1932, in Grinnell to Asa Clayton and Isla Dorothy Anderson Talbott. Jim was raised in Grinnell and a graduate from Grinnell High School with the class of 1953. On November 30, 1954, he married Dorris P. Elhard in Iowa City, Iowa. The couple lived in Grinnell and where he worked for various companies as a truck driver. He retired from International Harvester, where he was a mechanic. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He also loved to tinker with numerous projects. He loved to visit and enjoyed the company of his dog, Sam. Jim is survived by his sons, Jerome Miller and his wife, Laurie, of Beaman and Willis Miller and his wife, Kathy, of Gilman and two sisters, Madesta "Sis" Beason, and her husband, George, of Carthage, Missouri and Mary Trease of Grinnell. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Christina Hauser, Jackie Hauser, Shelly Sonderleiter, Stacy Pfantz, Chanda Kline, Wendy Bertram and Michael Stufflebeam; 18 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Jim died on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at his home, at the age of 73. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Dorris on August 25, 2005.