Jim passed away peacefully December 28 due to heart failure. He was under the care of Livingston Hospice at Victoria Care Center.
Jim was born on March 14, 1936 to Phyllis and Robert Wiley in Highland Park, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He attended Detroit public schools and graduated from Class Technical High School, downtown Detroit, in the architectural program. For a brief time, Jim attended classes at University of Miami, Florida and the University of Michigan.
In 1954, he enlisted in the US Army during the Korean conflict. He spent two years as a military police officer transporting American soldiers found guilty of minor offenses, to barracks in Japan. Returning to Detroit in 1956, Jim enrolled at Wayne State University on the GI Bill, graduating in 1960 with a B.A. in History. During 1961-1963, he completed the course work for a M.A. in Public Administration.
September 1956, Jim met Carol Ann Hideman, who was an entering freshman at Wayne State. This was her first day at the university and she and Jim were in the same car pool. In October of that year, Carol and Jim had their first date. January 23, 1960 they were married in a candle light service in Greenfield, Dearborn, Michigan.
1960-1969 Jim worked various positions with the city of Detroit Civil Service Commission. He became the Director of Community Renewal and was a member of the Mayor's Cabinet. He was responsible for community development planning and code enforcement of city programs. While in Detroit, their two children were born: John Michael (1963) and Karen Ann (1967).
The family moved to New Jersey in 1969 where Jim would work with the N.Y. State Urban Development Corporations in NYC. His duties included the development of regional housing programs for low income families and short and long-range corporate planning. In 1975, the family moved to Springfield, Illinois where Jim worked as Deputy Director for Program Development with Illinois Capital Development Board. This agency was responsible for all planning and programming of State financial capital improvements, except highways. The job was not what Jim thought it would be and the next year the family moved to Springfield, Virginia. Jim worked in Washinton, D.C.
Jim worked as Director of Agency Coordination for Stations. As a member of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Jim and the management team constructed or renovated 15 major railroad stations of the Northeast Corridor, under the budget of the Federal Railroad Administration. This position was the most professional and personally rewarding. He had many good memories of co-workers during the 7 years. All good things must come to an end and the family again moved.
From 1982-1998, Jim held senior positions with Harry Weese & Associates in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, and five years with the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority, "retiring" in 1998. He worked as Right of Way Manager for the Alameda Corridor Engineering Team for 5 years before establishing Jim Wiley and Associates, Inc. As a consultant, he worked on the completion of the $2.4 billion Alameda Corridor Project, connecting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Jim took great pride in the work he did and boasted he had never been without a job. He started at 11 years old in Detroit, sweeping out the office of a watchmaker, having a paper route, and even in winter a snows and recreation leader for the city. He loved our home in Oxnard Shores and practically every day would say how glad he was that we moved here when Carol Ann retired. He would look around and say "another day in paradise." He transformed our patio into a true green space and filled it with roses, flowers, and anything colorful.
Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carol Ann "Poo"; son John of Bakersfield; daughter Karen of Palm Springs (life partner Tracy Buyan); grandson Patrick Michael of Bakersfield; and our cockatoo, Elvis.
The past 3 years have not been kind to Jim. The family is very grateful to the doctors, nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists for their care of Jim and Saint John's in Oxnard, Community Memorial in Ventura, and Victoria Care Center in Ventura. Thank you to James Sands, M.D. and Dennis Brooks, M.D. for your wonderful care for many years. Special thanks to the caregivers of Livingston Memorial Hospice, especially Dan, for the compassionate care these past three weeks. We are blessed to have loving and supportive friends and neighbors. Thank you to our dear friends Michael and Bonnie, Mohammad, Tom and Valerie, Carl and Karolyn, Greg and Joannie and Patty; friends in the Assistance League of Ventura County; the "Birthday Group" - Betty, Penny, Mary, Gloria, Gene, Marty, Carole, and Sandy; quilting friends at VACE - Judy, Sharon, Linda, Jane, and Margot for their support and caring these past months.
There will be a "Celebration of Life" on January 16, 2016 at the Wiley's from 1-5 p.m. The family would like anyone thinking of honoring Jim, to consider a donation to the Assistance League of Ventura County, 913 East Santa Clara, Street, Ventura, CA 93001, and to help those in need of support and kindness for the difficult times.
Arrangements for Jim are under the care of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 East Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001. 643-8623.