Mr. James Thomas Stanley's Obituary
James Thomas Stanley, 67, passed on to a better place on Sunday, January 10, 2021, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's and Corticobasal Degeneration. Jim, affectionately known to most of his Florida and Alabama family as "Steamer" and "Bugger" by his Memphis family, was born in Memphis, TN. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1971 and attended the University of Tennessee Martin. Jim was part owner of Garibaldi's Pizza in Memphis until he got "sand in his shoes" after spending previous summers as a deckhand on fishing boats in Destin, FL. After moving to Destin fulltime, he worked on many boats over the years and eventually fished for tuna and swordfish on the two longline fishing boats he owned. After a boat accident on January 10, 1989 that ended his fishing career, he worked with Tremco, Inc until 2015 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. He and his wife of over 31 years, Claudia, moved to Lake Martin, Alabama in Stillwaters in 2015, where he hoped to play golf, fish and enjoy the lake.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Thomas V. Stanley, Jr, and his mother, Emma Claire Stanley. He is survived by his wife, Claudia Anne, as well as his daughter, Meagan Claire Boyle (Kevin), his stepson, Casey Scott Chambliss (Amelia), two grandchildren (Amelie Claire and Liam Patrick Boyle), his sisters, Laurie Claire Musick (Rick), D'Ella Claire Stanley, Amy Claire Stanley and a brother, Howard Wilson Stanley (Ellen), as well as several nieces and nephews.
A small memorial service will be held at a later date when his ashes will be spread in his beloved Gulf of Mexico. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a charity of your choice in his name.
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