James Houston Hitch Jr. ¹

Jim Hitch, 78, of Parma, died Sunday, March 13 2011, at the Boise Veteran's Hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Jim was born in Oxnard, California in 1932, to James and Emma Hitch, and was raised in Moorpark, Calif., where he was ASB president both his junior and senior years as well as football captain. He went to Occidental College for two years before transferring to Cal Poly College in San Luis Obispo, where he majored in mechanized agriculture. During this time, Jim met Bette, joined the Army at Ft. Ord and was transferred to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He was offered a contract to play football for the Cleveland Browns which he turned down to finish college and operate the family citrus farm. In 1963, Jim moved his young family northward to escape population growth. He bought his dream farm where the Boise and Snake rivers joined. Jim loved Parma and was active in many areas of the community. For years he volunteered for the city airport-prompting many to call it, "Hitch International". He was also involved with the Parma Rod and Gun Club for over 40 years. Jim loved young people. He worked with Boy Scouts, hauled hundreds of kids to swim meets when they couldn't have gone otherwise, dug an ice rink in Old Fort Boise Park and built firepits for roasting marshmallows. He watched wrestling matches, baseball games, and could still be found trying to climb the football bleachers to his top spot in front of the press box to watch the PHS players. In the last few years, Jim loved watching his three grandchildren become incredibly kind and accomplished adults. At sunset, he loved fishing on his dock with his dog eating Heather's oatmeal cookies. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Bette, of Parma; his daughter, Sarah, of Parma; son, Jim, of Walla Walla, Wash.; grandchildren, Jimmie and wife, Kathryn, of D.C., Heather, a BSU senior and Heidy, of Coeur d'Alene, and 'Uncle Lefty' Galloway, of Oxnard, Calif.; …saddle up the horses, Marth Ellen. Jim requested that no funeral services be held, but asked to share the following quote he found years ago: "However one might pray, in any verbal way or completely without words, is unimportant to God. What matters is the heart's intent."

James married Bette (?). (Bette (?) died after 2011.)