James "Jim" Hall

James J. (Jim) Hall, 89, a long time resident of Ridgway, PA, was carried into his eternal rest Thursday evening in Dubois, after a long struggle with dementia and its debilitating effects. Jim was born in Barnes, PA on March 5, 1935, the son of Charles J. and Alice (MacMartin) Hall. He grew up on a dairy farm just north of Austin, PA and was raised by his Mom and step-father, Lloyd Tyler; learning the value of hard work and responsibility. Jim graduated, with honors, from Austin High School in 1953, and enlisted in the Air Force within the next year. He selected the Medical Corps as his field of training and met the love of his life, Jeanette Eckert, at Lackland AFB, in Plattsburgh, NY. They were married in Auburn, PA on December 8, 1956. After his discharge from the Air Force, Jim continued his education at Goshen College in Elkhart, IN, then completing his degree in Medical Technology at South Bend Medical Foundation, South Bend, IN in 1962. Throughout his entire career in health care, Jim was employed as Chief Technologist and Laboratory Manager in Middleton, WI, Council Bluffs, IA, and finally at Elk County General Hospital in Ridgway, where he retired in 1997 after 35 years of service. Jim and Jeanette were blessed with four children, Randy (Kim) Hall of Brockway, PA; Susan (Lloyd) Morrison of Lombard, IL; Rodney (Judi) Hall of Winston Salem, NC; and Russell (Nancy) Hall of Glen Burnie, MD. 

Jim was an active member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Ridgway, serving as head elder for many years. Jim was also involved in the community, serving as the Borough Health inspector from 1980 to 2017. He also was active in environmental conservation. In 1977, he began a glass and scrap metal recycling business that reclaimed an average of 8 tons of glass a month from landfills and dumps for many years. Not one to sit still, Jim enjoyed playing tennis, hiking, and biking the Rails to Trails path; especially with his good friend, Buss Miller. He kept himself busy doing tin punch art, woodworking, and tearing apart any broken down machine or appliance for scrap. He was always ready to play a game with the family when they came to visit; especially Rook or Dominoes. When dementia robbed him of his ability to continue his endeavors, he challenged himself with jigsaw puzzles to keep his mind engaged. He also loved being with his family, his11 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren; and attending the Crosby-MacMartin family reunions every year that he could.

Jim was welcomed home in eternity by his Mom and step-father,who preceded him; his brother, Jay-Don Hall, and his sister, Levia T. (Hall) Herzig. His younger brother, Thomas Tyler, still lives on part of the family farm outside of Austin.

Visitation for friends and family will be held at Krise Funeral Home, 130 Center Street, Ridgway, PA, on Monday, February 17th, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Awakening Alliance Church, Ridgway, PA, on Tuesday, February 18th, at 6:00pm, with Rev. Don Hunter officiating.

Burial will be at Oakmont Cemetery. 

Krise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 130 Center Street, Ridgway, PA 15853 is handling the arrangements, and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefuneralhome.com