Lee "Hemo" James

Groveland, FL- Lee “Hemo” James, 71, passed away peacefully at his home with his family at his side on Thursday, September 26, 2024 following a courageous battle with liver cancer.

Lee was born August 16, 1953 in Salem, a son of the late Richard “Dick” James and Barbara (Aiken) James.

Hemo was a 1971 graduate of Lisbon David Anderson High School, a 1983 graduate of Kent State University, and had earned his MBA from Mercer University in 1995.

He served as vice president of manufacturing for Bilt Rite Manufacturing in Boston, Massachusetts, and Johnsonite Tile Flooring, and then retired as VP of manufacturing for North America Manufacturing.  For the last eight years, he worked as a consultant for Crowe.

A member of the Lisbon First United Methodist Church, Lee enjoyed golfing in his spare time, travelling and spending time with this wife, Debi.

He also proudly served our country as a technical staff sergeant in the Unted States Airforce serving from 1976 to 1984.

In addition to his mother, Barbara James of Clermont, Florida, Hemo is survived and will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Debra J. (Dunn) James, whom he married March 26, 1977; his son, Jared Paul (Nicole) James of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; grandchildren, Amelia and Alexander James; sisters, Lynn (the late Randy) Gebott of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Lisa Templin-Rayburn of Clermont, Florida; brother, Richard Alan James of Leesburg, Florida; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Lee was also preceded in death by his sister, Leslie James.

A memorial service celebrating Hemo’s life will be held at 11am, Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the Eells-Leggett-Stauffer Funeral Home with Dana Blackburn officiating.  Burial with full military honors will follow at the Lisbon Cemetery.

The family will receive guests from 10am until the time of services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lee’s memory to the Lisbon First United Methodist Church, 114 East Washington Street, Lisbon, Ohio 44432.

Friends may also view Hemo’s memorial tribute page, share a memory, and leave condolences at www.eells-leggett-stauffer.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lee "Hemo" James, please visit our floral store.