James “Jim” Phillip Navarre, age 75, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Jim was born on December 14, 1939 to the late John Owens Navarre and Dolores Ososkie Navarre. Jim served in the United States Navy for four years during the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis. After his discharge from the Navy, Jim lived in Chicago and worked for Dressel’s Bakery. In 1977 he married Beverly K. Taylor and they shared thirty-eight years together. Jim built locomotives for General Motors Electro-Motive in La Grange, Illinois for 22 years. In 1990 he continued his work for GM at the Saturn Plant in Spring Hill, TN. He retired in 2004. He was a wonderful story teller and had one of the sharpest minds; he had no problem concentrating on a baseball game on tv, another on the radio, a Sudoku puzzle – and maybe a novel too. Jim loved sports, especially baseball and the Chicago Cubs. One of his passions was reading; he particularly enjoyed mysteries and westerns. In addition to puzzles and sports he also enjoyed card games such as pinochle and solitaire, 1960s Jazz music, photography, travel, and classic American cars. He was a devoted, loving, and beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
The family will visit with friends on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee. Funeral services to celebrate Jim’s life will follow on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee. Another visitation will be held at Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield, Tennessee on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Burial will immediately follow at the Hart Graveyard in Springfield, Tennessee.
Jim is survived by his wife of thirty-eight years Beverly Navarre of Columbia; daughters Jennifer Navarre of Nashville and Valerie (Abraham) Penrod of Columbia; grandson Jimmy Penrod of Columbia; and sisters Anne (Jim) Gilhool of Riverview, Michigan and Mary Ellen (Bruce) Marti of Canton, Michigan.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John “Jack” and Dolores Navarre; brothers Lawrence “Larry” Navarre and John Stephen “Stevie” Navarre; and sister Denise Navarre.
Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.williamsfh.com.
