James Stickler, 61, of Page, died Thursday, July 26, 2007.

Mr. Stickler was born to Robert J. and Florence Stickler on Dec. 20, 1945, in Henderson, Nev.

He moved with his family to Yuma and spent his grade school years at Immaculate Conception School. In 1959, he moved with his family to Page, where he attended Page High School as a popular member of the class of 1963. He was well known for his feats on the basketball court and other sports.

He enjoyed the outdoors, becoming an accomplished fisherman and hunter. He continued these activities throughout his lifetime, spending many leisure hours roaming around the forests of the North Kaibab and South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Beginning in his high school years, Jim started working at Babbitt Brothers grocery in Page and continued with this career throughout his life. He rose to store manager in Page, as well as with the company stores in Flagstaff, Holbrook and Grand Canyon. Known by all as the consummate groceryman, Mr. Stickler was respected by many friends and associates in the industry. After a period of being in business with his brothers in northern Arizona, he began again with Babbitts at the Grand Canyon in the early 1980s and continued until his death.

He will be very much missed by his family and friends around the card table, and especially at the hunting camps, where he would settle back, pop a cold one and say, "Well, we're huntin' now!"

Mr. Stickler is survived by his longtime devoted partner, Barbara Fisher of Grand Canyon; children Denise and Jay of California, sons Patrick (Vicki) Stickler of Flagstaff, and Robert Stickler of Grand Canyon; and daughter Samantha Stickler of Grand Canyon; brothers Michael (Dorthea) Stickler of Page, Patrick Stickler of Page, and Geoffrey (Gail) Stickler of Flagstaff; John Casey (Lisa) of Valle; and sisters Margaret (Ed) Wescott of Texas, Mary (Gordon) Blank of Mesa.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be Friday, at 2 p.m., at Shrine of the Ages, Grand Canyon Village.