James Smith

James R. Smith, age 69, of Faribault and formerly of Fairmont, MN, died Thursday, January 5, 2012.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, in Faribault. Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Organization.             Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.             Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.             James Ray, the son of Ray John and Mary Jean (Weires) Smith, was born on November 15, 1942 in Faribault. He attended Faribault High School and graduated with the class of 1960. After high school Jim served for over four years in the U.S. Navy working as an electronics/radar technician. After his discharge from the service Jim attended an Electronic's School in Chicago, IL. On September 28, 1963 he was united in marriage to Mary Anne Hanscom at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Faribault. After Jim's schooling they moved many times, working for Honeywell and MTS Systems. In 1978 they settled in Fairmont and Jim worked as a National Service Manager at Weigh-Tronix Scale Company for over 20 years. In 2007 they moved to Faribault and Jim worked most recently as a Bus Driver for Faribault Transportation, driving students and athletes to their events. This was something that gave him great pride and he enjoyed being with the students at all of their activities.              While living in Fairmont, Jim served many terms on the Fairmont City Council, was an active member at their church, was involved as a coach for youth hockey and girls softball, was a volunteer and mentor at Youth for Christ and was very supportive of the Bosnian immigrant families that they brought to Fairmont. In Faribault Jim was also active at his church and was most recently the photographer for the House of Gratitude being built at Divine Mercy Catholic Church. He was a generous and giving man that supported many organizations.             He is survived by his wife Mary Anne Smith of Faribault; by his son, Dean Smith of Eden Prairie, MN and by his daughter, Cheryl Smith of Minneapolis, MN; by seven sisters and four brothers and by many brothers and sisters in law and many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.             He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Lois Smith, by his mother and father in law, Marceline and John Hanscom, by his sister in law, Kathleen Hanscom and his brother in law Tom Dahlstrom.