James R. Clinton

James R. Clinton 88, of Round Lake Beach, IL passed away peacefully after a short illness at Hillcrest Retirement Village on July 18, 2023. For many years we celebrated his birthday with a big family party but this year we will be celebrating his life, as the head of his loving family on August 26, 2023. He was born August 24, 1934 in Chicago to James and Esther (Anderson) Clinton. He served in the United States Army active duty from May 1957 to May 1959. He was a reservist until May 1963.

He met his wife in London England while serving overseas and they married February 14, 1959. They resided in the Chicago area where Jim worked as a typographer/printer until 1975 and started their family of three children. Jim was a lifelong Chicago sports fan and an avid bowler. A die hard White Sox fan he got to experience watching them win the World Series in 2005 with his eldest grandson Braden. Jim loved his Chicago Bears and Blackhawks and with a season ticket holder for many years. He loved packing up the family and going on summer vacations in the station wagon, creating amazing memories for everyone.

After many years of visiting his cousin Billy in Indiana who ran a motel/restaurant Jim moved the family to Daytona Beach where he and his wife were the owner/operators of the Blue Heaven Beach motel from 1975 to 1983. It was there that Jim and Lyn developed many lifelong friendships, welcoming family and friends back to the beach year after year. After selling the motel Jim was manager of Coronado Towers Condominium in New Smyrna Beach, FL for many years.

Upon retiring Jim moved to Dallas, GA and resided there by his daughter Christine until 2020 when he returned to the Chicago area, settling in Grayslake, IL. He enjoyed breakfast out in his favorite restaurants, staying connected to his lifelong friends with weekly phone calls and talking with Braden, Richard and Ron about the White Sox, the Bears and every other sports team. He was a gifted storyteller and could remember dates, locations, map routes or anything else you asked him about!! If you sat next to him at a family event there were always memories and stories to be shared. When it came to his sweet tooth he was a lover of a good coffee cake and there wasn’t a dessert he would pass up.

James is survived by his loving children; Richard (Diane) Clinton, daughters; Deborah Cretacci (Ronald Dorsey) and Christine (David he preceded her in death) Davidson. 5 Grandchildren; Marie (Randy) Langham, James II (Molly) Clinton, Braden (Geraldine) Cretacci, Ashley (Jeffrey) Hubbe, Julia Davidson. 11 great grandchildren; Izabella, Elizabeth, Gabriella, Annabelle, James III, Jace, Kennedy, Remington, Bella, Anthony and Brodie.

James preceded in death his wife of 49 years Evelyn Rosalie Clinton (nee Horgan).