James “Jim” Charles Early, 80, of Wrangell, passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Sept. 19, 2025, in his home with his wife of 40 years, Shirley Clark, by his side.
“We would like to ask Jim’s friends and family to join us this Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Fire Department, from 4 to 6 p.m., for an informal, potluck-style get-together where we can share some photos and a few words to celebrate his life,” his family wrote.
Jim was born Jan. 19, 1945, in Wrangell at the Bishop Rowe Hospital to Charles and Anna “Jo” Early; his mother worked at the hospital as a nurse. He graduated from Wrangell High in 1963, then after commercial fishing for the season he went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for four years on an aircraft carrier, earning a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and Navy Unit Commendation.
After a short stint working in Portland, Jim returned home to work at Union Oil and later Alaska Airlines.
He then worked as a cement plant operator for Ritchie Transportation, then settled on being a captain and running boats, some of which were the “sand boat” for Ritchie Transportation, tugs for Silver Bay, with Gary Allen Sr. on the Stikine Sal, and with Clay McCay on the Grace C.
Jim volunteered for many years in the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department, becoming a captain in 1976, and was one of Wrangell’s first EMTs. Besides volunteering in his spare time, his two other big hobbies and passions were fishing on the Mixer Man and hunting with his buddies.
After retirement, Jim enjoyed his homelife with Shirley, staying busy by helping her with business bookkeeping tasks.
Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Charlene Ann Early-Tepper, and his parents, Charles Nelson Early and Anna “Jo” Ingaborg Johanson-Early.
He is survived by his son, James “Jim” Scott Early; wife Shirley Jean Clark; and granddaughters Katelyn Marie Fish and Jamie Rachelle Early, all of Wrangell.
Memorial donations may be made to either the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 794, or Wrangell Burial Assistance, P.O. Box 408, both at Wrangell, AK 99929.
