Born on 22 April 1936 in Denison, Texas, Jim passed away at his home in Williamsburg, Va., on Friday morning, 4 November 2022 from complications of ALS. In addition to Phyllis, his wife of 56 years, Jim is survived by his daughter Janet, his son Michael, their families, and a large Australian/New Zealand family. Jim, the only child of Lindsay and Myrhl (Eloise) Talley, graduated from Tulane University in June 1958 with a B.Sc. Degree and received his commission into the US Navy at that time. At the Tulane Naval Reserve ROTC review, Jim received the Capt. John S. Sareussen Award for outstanding leadership and executive ability. He was commander of his ROTC unit, Vice President of both his junior and sophomore classes and President of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity chapter. He was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was a proud Son of the American Revolution.
Upon completing his military service, in 1966 Jim joined Chubb & Son Insurance Co. During his 30 years with Chubb, Jim worked in the NY City office, Headquarters in New Jersey, and spent four years in Japan managing Chubb’s Tokyo office. At the time of his retirement in 1996, he was Senior Vice-President in charge of Chubb’s Reinsurance Department.
After retirement, Jim and Phyllis built their home in Williamsburg, Va., and purchased a home in Australia, Phyllis’ homeland. He loved to read, to listen to his huge collection of LPs, to complete the NY Times Crossword puzzles in ink, to tell his life stories, and to sit on his screened porch. He and Phyllis were Charter Drinkers at Neary’s in NYC.
Jim will be laid to rest in Denison, Texas with his beloved parents and his daughter, Ann Elizabeth, who predeceased him.
Jim’s family and friends will miss his quick wit, his humor, his kindness and most of all, HIM. He was a good and honorable man.
