James Stewart Donaldson, “Jim”, of San Manuel, Arizona, quietly slipped into eternity on Jan. 10, 2022, to be with his beloved wife, Jo Donaldson, who passed away in July of 2021. Jim was born in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 7, 1937, to parents, Merlin John Donaldson and Pauline Esther Milliken Donaldson, the youngest of three children.
Jim’s parents divorced when he was quite young, so he grew up in several communities, including Tucson, Hachita, New Mexico, and Cliff, New Mexico, before settling in Virden, New Mexico, in 1949. It was there in Virden that he met his future spouse, Johnette “Jo” Lines, while they were both still young. By the time he was in high school, Jim had begun dating Jo and was determined to keep dating her after graduating from Virden High School in 1955 because he was moving to Thatcher to attend the Gila Valley Academy, currently known as Eastern Arizona College.
On May 28, 1957, after quite the mix-up with their marriage license, the couple married in the Mesa Arizona Temple. In 1958, Jim and Jo moved to Tucson so that Jim could continue his education at the University of Arizona. The couple was blessed with six children; Jayme, Joni, Kevin, Kyle, Krystal, and Karson. In 1970, the family moved to San Manuel, Arizona, where Jim was hired as the head basketball coach for San Manuel High School.
Family was everything to Jim and Jo and they spent all of their time together as a family camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting. Jim and his family truly enjoyed their annual backpacking trips into the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico and the tradition continued even after he was no longer able to hike in or ride a horse.
Jim’s commitment to the community and the schools was outstanding. As a coach and the principal, he touched hundreds of lives because he truly cared for each individual. When coaching, he demanded the best from each player on and off the court, because he wanted to bring out the best in them. He will be well remembered for his 6-mile runs and the many golf tournaments he organized.
He and Jo enjoyed going for rides at sunset, making special trips up north to see the fall colors, and above all, keeping his family together and full of love. After losing the love of his life, he continued the family traditions by spending as much time with his family as possible.
Jim leaves behind his children, Jayme (Mike) Gauthier, of Safford, Joni (Larry) Marshall, of Payson, Kevin (Marcelle) Donaldson, of Eagar, Kyle (SueAnn) Donaldson, of Mesa, Krystal (Chuck) Bassett, of Phoenix, and Karson (Becky) Donaldson, of Mesa; siblings, Johnny, Jerry, and Judy; sister-in-law Dessie Donaldson; 29 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; three and three/quarter great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Jim is preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Merlin and Ruth Donaldson; mother, Pauline Donaldson; sister and brother-in-law, Nora Ann and Bud Stailey; brother, Bruce Donaldson; sister, Jeanie Adams; son-in-law, Randy Lucas; granddaughter, Sage Donaldson, and great-great-granddaughter Paisley Jade Stailey.
Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, San Manuel Chapel, with a viewing from 9 until 10:45 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Virden, New Mexico Cemetery at 4:30 p.m.
For those unable to attend the services, it will be aired on Facebook Live. Sign on to your Facebook account and locate the McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel page, “Like” the page, then 5 minutes prior to the funeral service starting the video will pop up on the page.
Arrangements are being cared for by McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel located at 112 E. Main St., Safford, Arizona, 85546, 928-428-1740, www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
