James Arthur Sexton

James Arthur Sexton
February 5, 1934 - July 29, 2025

James “Jim” Arthur Sexton was called home to the Lord on July 29, 2025 at the age of
91.

Jim was an exceedingly wise, confident, kind and loving man with a wonderful sense of
humor. His wife, family, and friends were his most treasured possessions. He had an
amazing strength of character that could be felt in his firm handshake. He never met a
stranger and could start up a conversation with anyone in any place. He was a lifetime
learner who loved reading. As a child he was known for keeping a book under every
chair in the house, so he had something to read wherever he sat.

Jim was born February 5, 1934, to Sanford “Sandy” and Wilma Sexton in Boise Idaho.
He had 2 sisters, Joann Bybee (Arlen Bybee deceased) and Juanita Davies deceased
(Kay Davies deceased). He was raised in Pocatello Idaho where he lived and
graduated from Pocatello High School.

In 1963 he met, courted, and married the love of his life Patrica “Anne” Sexton with
whom he celebrated 61 years of blissful marriage together. They loved just being
together.

They raised two sons Philip and Stephen in the same house they purchased in 1963
before eventually moving to Colorado Springs in 2012 where they lived next door to
Philip and his wife Valerie. This also brought them much closer to Stephen and his wife
Paulette who reside in Albuquerque NM. He has two grandchildren, Jason Sexton and
Jennifer Horvath (Chad Horvath) and one great grandson, Dominic Horvath.

At age 13 years he began working at an Upholstery shop. When the shop owner left
town Jim chose to take over the business where his father eventually came to work with
him. He served in the US Navy from 1954 until 1958 when he returned home to
Pocatello. He moved Sexton’s Upholstery into the basement of his home in 1967 when
his father passed away. In 1961 he joined the Pocatello Fire Department where he
served for 25 years before retiring in 1986 as a Captain where he had earned the
nickname “Subtle Jim” for his clear and direct leadership style. In 1991 he went to work
at Idaho State University as the only Upholster supporting the entire campus and
worked there until 1998. Throughout his life he kept Sexton’s Upholstery open before
officially closing its doors in 2001.

His interests included family, horses, hunting, dancing, creating stained glass art,
whittling, and knife throwing, but he is likely best remembered for his engaging
storytelling. Having traveled the country as a child every summer with his family and
traveled the world in the Navy, he was happiest just being at home with his wife in
Pocatello and later in Colorado Springs.

His wife, Anne, converted to Catholicism in 2021 and shortly thereafter Jim converted to
Catholicism as well. As both had now been baptized, they exchanged vows in a
sacramental wedding ceremony attended by friends and family.
Jim is predeceased by his parents “Sandy” and Wilma, his brother Jerry, his sister
Juanita and her daughter Penny.

He is survived by his loving wife Anne; his sons Philip and Stephen; his sister JoAnn;
his grandchildren Jason and Jennifer (Chad); his great-grandson Dominic, and nieces
and nephews (Tim Davies, Sandy Lee, Scott Stanton, Marny Artemis, Nova Chandler
and Zach Chandler)

One of Jim’s favorite quotes was:
“If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner,
you have learned how to live” – Lin Yutang
Jim had truly learned to live. And everyone was blessed to share his life.

Services:
Services will be held on September 20th at Saint Peter Catholic Church starting at 11:00 am.

The family asks instead of flower or tree donations to please visit the Mater Filius link https://materfiliuscs.org/give/ 

The family would appreciate if you left notes and memories of Jim on this website.

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