James Joseph Ferri

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James Joseph Ferri

August 19, 1942 ~ February 16, 2025

James Joseph Ferri, 82, passed away peacefully at his adopted home, The Haven Assisted Living in Hurricane, on February 16, 2025.

Jimmy was born on August 19, 1942 in Oakland, California to Howard and Flora Ferri. He is survived by his sister Dina MacDonald and brother Bill Ferri and Bill’s children, Paul, Melanie, Bruce; their sister Laura preceded Jimmy in death.

Jim jotted down in 2019 parts of his obituary in his own unique manner, and much of the following comes directly from him: “James Ferri returned to his Heavenly Father on 2-16-2025. He had wonderful cousins: Joan Hamiel, Bob and Mike Wilkowski, Steve Ross, and also Don and Linda Ross, who preceded him in death. His aunts and uncles were very close to him. He started his restaurant profession in his family’s small restaurant in Oakland, California. He apprenticed in Paris, France at the Cordon Bleu, where he shared a class with Julia Child! He also attended the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He was the first person to receive the Holiday Magazine award for the Roof Restaurant at the Hotel, Utah in Salt Lake City.

“After twenty years in the restaurant business, he taught in the Culinary Arts Program in Richfield and at Snow College in Ogden for twenty more years. He took off for two years to live on the tall sailing ship “Te Vega,” cooking and teaching high-potential dyslexic students. He returned to Sky Mountain in Hurricane, where he bought a lovely home. He really liked the Mexican workers who did his yard work, his Southern Baptist Bible family, and his Sky friends.  Jim was able to travel after he retired and chose to live with families rather than staying at hotels. So off he went to Costa Rica, Mexico, France and Canada to connect with many different people and their cultures.”

Jim lived life to its fullest. During his six years at The Haven, he loved to be of service and he appreciated the service of others, too. He loved his adopted family, his friends, and especially Tom and Gaylene Lange who stayed with him at the end. He attended Mass at St. Paul Catholic Center in Hurricane.

Just hours before he died, Jim was heard to call out, “What are you waiting for?” When asked who he was talking to, he replied, “God!” He was really ready to go home to his Heavenly Father.