Jimmy Fausett

JIMMY LOY "JIM" FAUSETT

Coralville

Jimmy Loy "Jim" Fausett died unexpectedly in Iowa City, Iowa, on May 24, 2017, at the age of 85. Jim had been a resident of Coralville since March 1959 and served for many years on the town council and later as the city's mayor.

Jim was born in Springfield, Mo., on Nov. 18, 1931, the son of Ferrell and Verna (Dodd) Fausett. He grew up on a farm near Clark, Mo., graduated from Harrisburg High School and the University of Missouri, and married Carol in 1953. College was interrupted by the war he was part of the ROTC program at Missouri and was a member of the National Guard. He went with the U.S. Army to Korea as part of a water purification unit.

After college, Jim and Carol moved to the Coralville area, where he was a field man for the Iowa Farm Bureau. In 1966, he took a job in purchasing/scientific supply with the University of Iowa, and, starting in 1973, worked in central supply at the University of Iowa Dental School. He served as manager of services there until his retirement in 1997.

Jim lived a life of service to others and taught his children and grandchildren to always put others first.

For someone who served for so many years in city government, Jim was surprisingly nonpartisan, and he counted among his friends members of all political parties. He was a peacemaker at heart, who both informally and formally served in the role of mediator. Jim taught us to treat all members of our community with respect. Jim rarely had a cross word for anyone and tried to see all issues from many points of view.

His family includes his wife, Carol; their children, Karen Fausett of Grinnell, Kirk Fausett (Lora) of Wheaton, Ill., and Kendra Basler (David) of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Kevin, Lucy and Jackson Fausett and Samuel, Grace and Eli Basler; and Jim's sister-in-law, Shirley Fausett.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kevin (1977); brother, Bobbie Fausett; and sister and her husband, Neldena and Joe Smith.

Services celebrating Jim's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville, where military honors will be provided. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at Coralville United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jim Fausett Memorial Fund.

For a more complete obituary or an opportunity to share a memory, thought or condolence with Jim's family, please go to the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for Jim's family and his services.