James Edward Fairfield of Fallon, Nevada, slipped peacefully through the veil of this life, surrounded by his family, early on the morning of August 15, 2024. Jim was born the third son of Leah Frances Kingman and James Perry Hedtler Fairfield, in Weymouth, Massachusetts. He was born 4 years after his brother Robert passed but joined his older brother Herbert.
Growing up in Weymouth, Jim played baseball and football, helped his Uncle Oscar Hedtler in his auto parts store and even sat in the announcer’s booth at Fenway Park on occasion to catch a Red Sox game. After graduation, Jim joined the US Navy where he served proudly. He began his Navy career as a radio technician in the Atlantic Fleet. Jim completed two Pacific cruises on the USS Coral Sea; and served in Vietnam training the South Vietnamese Air Force in the operation of the Sky Raider.
During this time Jim met his first wife and became a father to his son, Joel, in 1964. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Jim became a firefighter in Dublin, California, went to college and welcomed his second son, Adam in 1967. In 1970, Jim moved his family to Hawthorne, Nevada where he served his community as Fire Chief, and as County Administrator. Jim later served as a fire chief and the Facility Maintenance Manager at the Hawthorne Munitions Depot.
After Jim left the US Navy, he continued with his military career, by joining the Nevada Army National Guard. He served in a variety of duty posts including, the National Guard Detachment in Hawthorne, Nevada, the 1st Sgt. Of the 321st Signal Messenger Company; and Command Sgt. Major of the 422nd Signal Battalion in Reno, Nevada. He then transitioned into the U.S. Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 before retiring after more than 30 years of service to his country.
Always an adventurous soul, Jim was continuously embarking on another path in life. Jim was a long time Mason; an accomplished pilot, sailor, horseman, rancher, truck driver, business owner, associate college professor and could build or fix anything.
In 1986, Jim married is life-long love, Terry Faye, on horseback at the Circle H Ranch in Bridgeport, California. They have enjoyed a life full of adventures on horseback, traveling the country in an RV, and sailing the Pacific. They even lived for a time in Mexico before returning later in life back home to Fallon.
Jim is our hero and the cornerstone of our family. He is deeply missed. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, one grandson Joel Thomas Fairfield and his stepson, Ricky Wilder. Jim is survived by his wife, Terry Faye of Fallon; sons Joel (Terri) of Fallon; Adam (Cheryl) of Fishers, Indiana; and beloved stepchildren, Mark Dotson of Wickenberg, Arizona and Tammy (Tom) Nunn of Cowley, Wyoming; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
A Military Service in Jim’s honor will be held at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jim’s name to: Fallon Masonic Lodge (Churchill #26) at 39 South Maine St., Fallon, Nevada 89406.