Jimmy Don Nicodemus, age 75, passed away in Texas, October 19, 2024, after a courageous battle of esophageal cancer. Jim was born in Texas, to Donald Lee and Billie Jean Nicodemus on March 6, 1949. Jim’s birthday was his favorite day, not because it was the day of his birth, but because it was the day the Alamo fell. He was a son of Texas who loved the freedom of Alaska. Jim was a student of history and a voracious reader, and you would be hard-pressed to find a scholar more knowledgeable about American history. Jim was a man of science, who studied marine biology at Stanford University. Alaska was the perfect place for him to apply his science and sense of adventure, working as a commercial fisherman and land surveyor and even trying his entrepreneurial skills by breeding oysters with his brother, Terry, and friend, Tim. Jim was a gregarious yet private person who never met a stranger. He loved to take walkabouts, explore, and meet people. He would say, “Nothing like taking a new horse through open country.” He was never a man who would brag about himself or his accomplishments, but boy, could he tell a tall story or capture his audience with a funny expression. Proud of his military service in the Navy, Jim served his country from 1967 to 1975. He received Naval aviation technical training in Memphis, Tennessee and served in the famous VAP-61 Squadron. He received the combat ribbon, for flight missions over North Vietnam and Laos. Family held a very special place in Jim’s heart, and no one was more special than his granddaughters, Nia, Faith, and Gemma. But the time he spent with Oli, his grandson, had to top the cake, once saying,” Oli gives me a purpose in life!” Jim is survived by his children, Dara Reeves, her husband Laurence Reeves, Joseph Nicodemus, Matthew Nicodemus, his wife Jill Nicodemus, brothers; Luke, Terry and his sister Barbara; grandchildren; Gemma, Faith, Nia, Oliver and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. He will have a military service summer 2025 so his ashes can be laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Sitka, Alaska. The town that always held his heart. Although, Jim’s request would be to “root for the Yankees and always tip your bartender.” In Lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the name of Jimmy Nicodemus. To donate, go to stjude.org, go to the menu, click Ways to Give, click Memorial giving. Or follow this link St. Jude Memorial Fund (https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8625891&fr_id=154020&pg=personal)
