1946
James
2020
James Maples
July 13, 1946 — July 7, 2020
Gulfport
James G. Maples, of Gulfport, Mississippi, passed away on Tuesday, July 7th, 2020, at Gulfport Care Center. He was 73.
Jim was born in San Fernando, California on July 13, 1946. The eldest of three children born to Patricia and Alvin Maples, Jim attended Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, California. His favorite subjects were the sciences, especially biology. He also ran track.
Jim was a true patriot. He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1964 serving as a Recruiter and Career Planner, and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during his tour in the Vietnam War. He held posts in Tokyo and Okinawa; Jacksonville, NC; Houston, TX; and Honolulu, HA. After almost 22 years of service, Jim retired from the Corps as a First Sergeant and joined the Gulfport Police Department. He became a Deputy Sheriff of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, serving under both Larkin Smith and Joe Price. Upon leaving the police force, Jim worked as a security officer at the President casino and Stennis Space Center.
Jim enjoyed learning about the natural world, and had a special fondness for dogs. He passed this love of animals on to his children. He was an excellent dancer, and loved Motown, CCR, and Fleetwood Mac. Jim was an avid reader, and he could often be found relaxing in his recliner with a book, a Marlboro, and a Jack and Coke. His favorites genres were military thrillers, science fiction and fantasy, and military history. There was also a never-ending supply of National Geographic magazines lying around the house. Jim enjoyed animation and fantasy art, collecting the works of Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta, and Ralph Bakshi. He also loved his flannel shirts, his USMC-issue camo shorts, and his pistachio and macadamia nuts.
Jim is preceded in death by his sister, Theresa, and his beloved son, Jon William.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Lynne, and her partner, Andrew Day; his friend Sam Costa; as well as other family and friends with whom he had lost touch over the years.
Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, served the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of South Mississippi.
Jim was born in San Fernando, California on July 13, 1946. The eldest of three children born to Patricia and Alvin Maples, Jim attended Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, California. His favorite subjects were the sciences, especially biology. He also ran track.
Jim was a true patriot. He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1964 serving as a Recruiter and Career Planner, and received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during his tour in the Vietnam War. He held posts in Tokyo and Okinawa; Jacksonville, NC; Houston, TX; and Honolulu, HA. After almost 22 years of service, Jim retired from the Corps as a First Sergeant and joined the Gulfport Police Department. He became a Deputy Sheriff of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, serving under both Larkin Smith and Joe Price. Upon leaving the police force, Jim worked as a security officer at the President casino and Stennis Space Center.
Jim enjoyed learning about the natural world, and had a special fondness for dogs. He passed this love of animals on to his children. He was an excellent dancer, and loved Motown, CCR, and Fleetwood Mac. Jim was an avid reader, and he could often be found relaxing in his recliner with a book, a Marlboro, and a Jack and Coke. His favorites genres were military thrillers, science fiction and fantasy, and military history. There was also a never-ending supply of National Geographic magazines lying around the house. Jim enjoyed animation and fantasy art, collecting the works of Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta, and Ralph Bakshi. He also loved his flannel shirts, his USMC-issue camo shorts, and his pistachio and macadamia nuts.
Jim is preceded in death by his sister, Theresa, and his beloved son, Jon William.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Lynne, and her partner, Andrew Day; his friend Sam Costa; as well as other family and friends with whom he had lost touch over the years.
Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, served the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of South Mississippi.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Maples, please visit our flower store.
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