Memories of Dennis R. St. James

In memory of

Dennis R. St. James

Phoenix, AZ

July 23, 1953 - January 16, 2021

Jul 23, 1953 - Jan 16, 2021

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The Beyda’s

Mr. Dennis sailing with David in San Diego, cooking Thanksgiving dinner together for the past 30 years, always trying the "dressing" the night b before Thanksgiving, and both families at Thanksgiving. Memories

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Lynn Price

Ryan St. James

Lisa Pham

Phoenix, AZ

3 years ago, Willis let his back get so bad, he turned himself into the letter L. Dennis spent 3 hours with him and he was standing straight again. He was truly a miracle worker. He will be missed.

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Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Lana Master

Shared a heart

Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Comments:

Lana Master

Dennis has been a voluntary member of my family since 1973.  From the time we met him on Guam while being part of the Air Force he also became part of our family.  He spent a lot of time at our house (to escape the barracks) and became the premier babysitter to my two sons.  He is known in our circles as the guy that got Drew "off" of his night bottle.  He also used to come over to do his laundry.  And, if you ever wanted to see military precision in the folding of that laundry you could always count on Dennis.  We were absolutely thrilled when married Kathy and they decided to move to Arizona where we all were.  In time they had Justin and Ryan and roles became somewhat reversed as Drew babysat those kids.  So many good times were shared with the St James.  I personally rafted the Colorado River three times with Kathy and Dennis and other family members.  The rapids, the scenery, the friends all made these trips spectacular!  I will never forget them nor will I forget the laughs.  Waking up and hearing Dennis strong voice telling everyone to pack up is a sound to be remembered (along with a few others!).

Dennis has been a voluntary member of my family since 1973. From the time we met him on Guam while being... Read more Dennis has been a voluntary member of my family since 1973. From the time we met him on Guam while being part of the Air Force... Read more Dennis has been a voluntary member of my family since... Read more

Lana Master

Back in Phoenix many holidays were also shared together and were especially important when our immediate ... Read more Back in Phoenix many holidays were also shared together and were especially important when our immediate families were not able... Read more Back in Phoenix many holidays were also shared together... Read more

Please consider a donation to the Dennis St. James Memorial Fund.

$7,885.00

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Lani Whiteside

Shared a heart

Diane Bodjanac

So sorry to hear about Dennis. We met him at his sister Jeanne's house.
Your family are in our thoughts and prayers
Paul and Diane Bodjanac

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Janet Ali

George Master

So many stories ever since we worked together on Guam back in the 70's...just a dear friend and my kid's favorite babysitter! Just a real kind sole.

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Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Comments:

Ryan St. James

Thanks for sharing some stories over lunch with us! God my dad was a wild man... Thanks for sharing some stories over lunch with us! God my dad was a wild man... Thanks for sharing some stories over lunch with us!... Read more

Jeanne Roush

2011, Phoenix AZ and Apache Junction, AZ, USA

If anyone ever ate Dennis's bisquits and homemade sausage gravy, you know he was the bomb at making this dish. On the weekends this was a favorite dish enjoyed by all especially his grand-daughters. Well one Saturday morning in 2011 when our brother Phil, Marty and I came for Saturday breakfast, Dennis filled our bellies with this great breakfast treat. However, soon after breakfast was done Den decided we needed to go on an adventure up to Tortilla Flats- a very small town (last stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail with a population of 6 people) . The Apache Trail it is a beautiful scenic road with circular very curvy winding narrow roads up through the Superstition Mountains. Well Dennis loved to give you the ride of your life experiencing his wacky driving. That was a trip that Phil and I will never forget. Climbing up the tortuous curvy roads Dennis swurved the car back and forth and doing so made our bellies churn from the sausage and bisquits. Phil got sick to his stomach, and we both rocked back in forth in the back seat. That day we became back seat drivers for sure. Anyone who has ever been a recipient to Dennis's driving will understand how easy it was to become a backseat driver with him. He and Marty thought swurving the car was funny. At the end of the day we all laughed and chuckled about it but at the time it was not funny.

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Lynn Price

Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Nancy and Eldon Steele

Saturday morning breakfast boys

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Lynn Price

Janet Ali

Cortney Smith

Ryan St. James

Comments:

Elaine Carr

so cute! so cute! so cute!

Jeanne Roush

Yes Den loved those Saturday bonding times with the boys. Yes Den loved those Saturday bonding times with the boys. Yes Den loved those Saturday bonding times with the... Read more

Nancy and Eldon Steele

Always had fun finding Christmas trees - and then finding Dennis!

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Lynn Price

Janet Ali

Cortney Smith

Comments:

Jeanne Roush

I know over the past years this was one of Dennis biggest joys with Christmas preparations, going to pick... Read more I know over the past years this was one of Dennis biggest joys with Christmas preparations, going to pick out a tree for Justin... Read more I know over the past years this was one of Dennis biggest... Read more

Nancy and Eldon Steele

A life well lived is a precious gift, of hope and strength and grace, from someone who has made our world a so much brighter and better place.
Kathy, Justin, and Ryan - We love you. Believe Dennis is resting in peace because he had a life well lived. We will always treasure every moment, every laugh, and every adventure we had with him!
He will be dearly missed,
Eldon and Nancy

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Janet Ali

Joanne Hoyt

Hey Mark, Jeannie and the rest of the St James dynasty, We are very sorry for your loss. We were so saddened to hear this tragic news. Just want to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
With our deepest sympathy, Joanne and Keith.

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Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Rebecca St. James

Shared a heart

Barbora Zehanova

Dear Kathy, Ryan, Justin, Cassidy and all members of the St. James family,
as much as I am a writer by my occupation, I am bad at writing condolences and messages of this type. If I could, I would hug you all, tell you in person how sorry I am for your loss (and I would actually have not enough words for that) and how much I miss Dennis because he will always have a special place in my heart. As all of you do have.
So if you excuse me, I am going to get a big bag of gummy worms and take my time to look at the stars Dennis loved to take pictures of.
He will be always with us - in Prague or in Arizona.
Will always love you, Big Daddy D.
B.

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Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Mark St James

Two classic examples of "Life with Dennis"... Enough said!!! I will love and miss you forever.

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Lynn Price

Barbora Zehanova

Rebecca St. James

Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Barbora Zehanova

Hot slivo shot

This picture is always going to remind me of men who will always belong to my life and heart. My father Frank, Dennis and Ryan - who at this occasion took the worst shot ever - hot slivo in our village pub in Hřebeč.

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Lynn Price

Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Cortney Smith

Ryan St. James

Mark St James

1987, Grand Canyon

The first of many Grand Canyon River Rafting trips Dennis Hosted. A memory of a lifetime!

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Lynn Price

Rebecca St. James

Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Cortney Smith

Comments:

Todd Master

I was on that trip - will never forget it!!! ❤️❤️ I was on that trip - will never forget it!!! ❤️❤️ I was on that trip - will never forget it!!! ❤️❤️

Mark St James

1981, The Grand Canyon

Our first Grand Canyon River Rafting Trip!

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Lynn Price

Rebecca St. James

Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Mark St James

1979, Arizona

The start of life in Arizona!

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Lynn Price

Rebecca St. James

Timothy St James

Janet Ali

Comments:

Todd Master

Love these Love these Love these

Todd Master

2019, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Dennis braving the cold (and stink) of an ice rink at the crack of dawn to watch my son play in a hockey tournament

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Janet Ali

Comments:

Elaine Carr

thanks for sharing— that would be just like our beloved Dennis❤️ thanks for sharing— that would be just like our beloved Dennis❤️ thanks for sharing— that would be just like our beloved... Read more

Todd Master

Dennis was plain and simply part of my family. I treasure so many wonderful memories with him - the rafting trip down the Colorado, the wonderful Holiday gatherings, talking about photography (he is a big reason why I fell in love with photography and I still have several of his photos framed in my house to this day), the barbecues and meals, Suns games (he gave my brother and I his tickets to Game 3 of the Suns/Bulls Championship Series), my wedding (his gift to us was to be our photographer- wouldn’t have had it any other way), his “love” of Jeepers the dog (I’d often dogsit for that dog he loved so much 😂), the stories he and my dad would often tell about their time in Guam (I’d cry laughing), his stereo system and Bob Seger (I think I was the only teenager in America at the time who loved Bob Seger - thanks to Dennis making his music the soundtrack to my childhood) ... all of this and so so so much more as I was 3 when he Cam’s into my life on an island in the South Pacific.

Living in CA, I did not see him (or his beautiful family) as much as I would have liked over recent years but I always knew he was there for me. When we did visit the Valley a few years ago for my son’s ice hockey tournament, Dennis showed up before 7am to visit with us and watch a game - if that’s not family, I don’t know what is.

I will always love him like a dad/uncle and wish Kathy, Justin & Ryan the very best. I cannot wait to see them and give them hugs.

Love always,

Todd

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Janet Ali

Todd Master

2000, Sedona, AZ, USA

Taking a photo with “official” wedding photographer (assume Justin, his lovely assistant that day) was taking this one

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Janet Ali

Ryan St. James

Timothy St James

Uncle Dennis, your influence is far-reaching and you have the love, respect and admiration of countless people. I will never listen to Bob Seger or Marshall Tucker and not think of you! Kathy, Justin, Ryan, and families, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and always.

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Ryan St. James

Michelle Courchaine

Lynn Price

Rebecca St. James

Janet Ali

Timothy St James

The boys

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Michelle Courchaine

Ryan St. James

Lynn Price

Joy St James Barber

Rebecca St. James

Janet Ali

Comments:

Michelle Courchaine

Now that is a good lookin bunch right there! Now that is a good lookin bunch right there! Now that is a good lookin bunch right there!

Joy St James Barber

That’s an awesome picture. Thanks for sharing. That’s an awesome picture. Thanks for sharing. That’s an awesome picture. Thanks for sharing.

The Beyda’s

Shared a heart

The Beyda’s

Sometimes someone comes into your life that finds a place in your heart and lives there forever. That someone was Dennis. We met in 1986 and our boys grew up with the St. James boys. We vacationed together in Oceanside and had 30 years of Thanksgivings together. Dennis and David in their chef’s coats carving the turkey, drooling over Dennis’s stuffing, and making turkey soup. His hands were gentle while he practiced his physical therapy skills, a gift and talent that is rare in only a few people. He healed not only with his hands, but with his wit, his kindness and his humility. The space in our hearts are bounded by memories that will last forever. We love you Dennis.

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