James M. Hamilton

James M. Hamilton passed away on June 25, 2019, at the age of 70. Originally from Mount Pleasant, Michigan, he spent the majority of his life living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jim passed away in Denver, Colorado, where he lived the final months of his life near his daughter and four grandchildren. Jim was born on September 19, 1948, in Waynesberg, Pennsylvania, son of the late Gerald Rex Hamilton and Geneiveive (Hendershot) Hamilton. Jim had one sibling, his sister Pearl (Hamilton) Curtiss who passed away in 2005. His father's work in the oil industry brought the family to mid-Michigan, where they settled in Mount Pleasant. Jim's parents each died young, with his father passing when Jim was four and his mother when he was 18. Jim then lived with his Hendershot cousins and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1966, where he was a varsity baseball player. Following high school, he graduated from Central Michigan University. In 1970, Jim welcomed his only child, Christa Leigh (Hamilton) Thelen, who was the light of his life. Jim cherished his time with Christa and remembered fondly their weekend trips to Traverse City and Mackinac Island, along with several high school Spring Break trips to Daytona Beach. His devotion to his family grew even more when Christa and her husband, Randy, had four children. Jim was a frequent fan at their baseball games, tennis matches, cheer competitions and school plays. Jim's career centered on public safety, working at State of Michigan Department of Corrections. Following his retirement from the State of Michigan, Jim applied his security expertise to the newly constructed Westin Hotel at Detroit Metro Airport. He loved the energy of the new facility and the ability to provide security detail to celebrity guests, including his all-time favorite football player, Tom Brady. Jim leaves behind a legacy of service--to his family and to the communities he served. A celebration of Jims life and a meal will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, September 20, at Lincoln Reception Center (attached to Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan). The family will greet friends from 11:30 a.m. until the service begins. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the American Heart Association. Envelopes will be available at the service.