James Huling

7/10/1937 — 3/9/2014

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Jimmy passed away peacefully and with extraordinary grace Sunday, March 9, 2014, in University Place, Wash., surrounded by his loving family.

Jimmy was born July 10, 1937, in Calexico, Calif., to Arvel and Virginia Huling. He was raised in California and graduated from Lynwood High School in 1955. While in high school, Jimmy was master councilor of the Order of DeMolay. He joined the U.S. Air Force at Parks Air Force Base in 1956, was stationed in the Philippines and was honorably discharged in October 1958.

Jimmy married Sandra Sue Danielson in Lynwood, Calif., on June 20, 1958. They lived briefly in Arizona while Jimmy was stationed at Williams Air Force Base. They returned to California after his discharge and lived there until 1973, when they moved to Idaho.

Jimmy's first career was in construction. He was a member of the Carpenters Local No. 1497 in California and Carpenters Local No. 398 in Idaho. He and his brother, Gary Huling, operated their own construction company in Lynwood, Calif., and Lewiston.

After leaving the construction industry, Jim worked for Merrill Instrument Repair as an instrument repair technician and began giving music lessons at Music City for the clarinet and sax. He was incredibly proud of the students he taught and often bragged of their accomplishments. He became the owner of Merrill Instrument Repair in 1992 and repaired band instruments for individuals and schools in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and throughout the area from Grangeville to the Palouse. Jim proved to be a very generous proprietor and often sought out instruments that he could repair and donate to others. Even though he talked about it, Jim never got around to

retiring.

Jim's love for music spanned his lifetime. He began playing the clarinet at age 9 and continued playing throughout his elementary and secondary school years with the Air Force Band and Los Angeles City College before spending more than 25 happy years performing with the Lewis-Clark Community Concert Band and the Lewiston Civic Theatre as first clarinet.

Jim is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Nelson and husband Barry of University Place, Wash.; son Jeb Huling of Los Banos, Calif.; sisters-in-law DeeDee Huling and Elizabeth McConnell and husband Dave; grandchildren Taylor, Mackenzie, and Ethan Simental and Jayce Huling; nieces Kendell Millbauer and husband Jim and Vanessa Vance and husband Mike; nephews Robert Schumacher, Andy Schumacher and wife Jessica and Zeb Huling; great-niecesMadison and Alexandria Vance; and great-nephew Brighton Schumacher.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Sandy Huling; parents Arvel and Virgina Huling; brothers Gary Huling and Donnelly Huling; parents-in-law Omar and Grace Danielson; and brother-in-law Danny Danielson.

Arrangements are with Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home in Lewiston. A memorial service has been scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home. Please sign the online guest book at www.malcomsfuneralhome.com.

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JoAnn Bjerke

About 20 years ago when our daughter, Susan, was in high school we contacted Mr. Huling about clarinet lessons. She would drive to his house and she would have a lesson and then they would play duets for an hour or so. They both enjoyed this so much and we always thought it was so giving of him to do this with her. Later, when she had gone on to the U of I to play in marching band and wind ensemble, I would see Mr Huling (we, of course, did not call him Jim) in the grocery store or some such place and he would always ask about Susan and how she was doing. Such a nice, caring man he was. We send our thoughts to his family and know that he will be missed but remembered with such love. JoAnn Bjerke