James Bryce Obituary

James (Jim) E. Bryce of Fairfax died peacefully with loved ones by his side on October 24, 2024, in St. Albans at the age of 80.
Jim was born on May 10, 1944, to Olin and Katherine (Fuller) Bryce in Cambridge, Vermont. He grew up on the family farm where he developed a very demanding work ethic which enhanced his life in a very positive way.
Shortly after graduating from Cambridge High School in 1962, Jim married Brenda Desmarais. He attended a trade school and shortly thereafter began working as a machinist at Lavallee & Ide in Winooski, quickly becoming manager. Jim left in 1978 to begin his own path. In 1980, he started The Yankee Corporation with Brenda manufacturing cutting tools (reamers). Always looking forward, he purchased and developed the remaining lots in Arrowhead Industrial Park in Georgia, VT.
Jim had a unique passion for working and he constantly stayed busy. He was always learning how things worked and creating new solutions. He was always on the shop floor every day running machinery until he couldn't any longer. He enjoyed woodworking and refurbishing old tractors. He always had a project that he was working on.
When he wasn't working, Jim enjoyed going out for dinner with his longtime partner Elizabeth (Betty) Martell and seeing their friends, both old and new. Jim was known for wanting his money's worth when it came to anything, especially his Gin and Tonic, and he didn't like Tonic. Jim never held anything back and told it like he saw it.
He always tried to practice the art of stewardship, helping the people of Georgia where he could. In June 2010, Jim and his crew started work on a new building for Georgia Fire and Rescue. Jim will always be remembered for his generosity and sense of community.
He is survived by his son, James Lee Bryce of Fairfax, VT, his partner Elizabeth Martell, his brothers Richard Bryce of Honolulu, HI, and Olin "Junior" Bryce of Cambridge, VT, grandson James J. Bryce of Fairfax, along with several nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Olin Stewart Bryce and Katherine E. Hislop, his wife, Brenda Lee Bryce, and his brother Carroll Bryce.
A Remembrance Gathering will be held October 30, 2024, at 2:00 PM, at Mountain View Cemetery in Essex.
As an alternative to flowers, memorials may be made in his name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. www.stjude.org
Jim's family and friends are very grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff at The Villa.
Arrangements are entrusted to Jeffrey Levesque and the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home, where fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with his family and friends at: www.bradyandlevesque.com.
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