James Franklin Bush, 87, of 27 Linwood Ave., Celoron, died Sunday (Sept. 9, 2012), as the result of an automobile accident in the town of Stockton, N.Y.
A lifelong area resident of the Jamestown area, he was born March 17, 1925, in Brokenstraw, Pa., the son of the late Steven Andrew and Mary Jane Hannold Bush.
Jim attended schools in Celoron and Cherry Creek, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II in the South Pacific aboard the USS El-more.
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Prior to his retirement, Jim worked for several lo-cal construction com-panies, as well as a self-em-ployed carpenter right up until the time of his death. He was always remodeling, fixing, restoring and work-ing on projects for his wife, children and grandchildren.
Jim and his wife, Caresse owned and operated the Antique Shop in Celoron named "The Store," housed in a turn of the century building which was at one time a grocery store. To-gether they restored furni-ture, old steamer trucks and he built many new wood pieces sold in the shop.
Besides his love for working with wood, in his youth he was an avid hunter and archer, winning many competitions and awards. Most recently his hunting consisted of the treasures he found with his metal detector.
Jim was a member of the Herman Kent Post 777, American Legion, Metal Detectors Club, Carpenters Local 66 Union and former member of the Archery Club of Celoron.
Surviving are his wife of 63 years, the former Lois Caresse Gray, whom he married Oct, 20, 1948, in Jamestown, N.Y. Also sur-viving are his daughter, Vicki Lynne Bush Laury and her husband, Arthur ''Ted'' Laury of W.E. Jamestown; his son, Craig Grayson Bush of Celoron; three granddaughters: Heather Gray Laury Ryczek and husband, Christopher, of Rochester, Graysya Lynn Bush Reden-back and husband, Justin, of Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Ashley Elizabeth Bush of Conneaut Lake, Pa.; three grandsons: Christopher Os-borne Laury of Jamestown, Michael Ames Laury and Andrew Barton Laury, both of Celoron; four great- grandgrandsons: Spencer James Ryczek, Mitchell Scott Ryczek, Drew Alex-ander Ryczek and Cooper Matthew Ryczek, all of Ro-chester; and a great-grand- daughter, Ava Lynne Laury of Celoron. Jim is also sur-vived by two half-brothers: Paul and Donald Bush, both of Jamestown; a half sister, Gladys Yuchnitz and her husband, Michael, of Ashville; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters: Bertha M. Bush Bournique and Margaret H. Bush Davenport; four brothers: Milton J., Ivan F., Howard S. and Edward L. Bush.
The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Fal-coner Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at a later date in Open Meadows Cemetery.
Friends will be received by the family from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday in the fun-eral home.
Memorial contributions may be donated to the American Heart Associa-tion, SW NY Division, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220.
Visit our website at www.falconerfuneralhome.net to light a candle in remem-brance.