Obituary for James Robert Godette
Jim's battle with cancer ended May 3, 2023 in Labelle, Florida at age 83. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Phyllis; loyal and devoted sister, Jill Coffey; beloved and faithful daughters, Tracy A. (Kevin) Brown and Amy J. (Scott) Scholand of GA; chosen daughter, Wanda Sampayo of NYC; dear and caring brother-in-law and advisor, James (Louise) Murray; adored grandchildren, Brennan, Tim, Ryan, Sarah Brown, Colin and Anna Scholand; exceptional nieces, nephews, cousins; lifelong pal, Ron Compertore; and many other very loyal friends. Jim was predeceased by his parents, James Henry and Wilma Elliott Godette.Jimmy spent much of his early childhood in Florida as his father was working for Embry Riddle teaching primary pilots how to fly and later delivered planes to the theaters of war for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He arrived back in Rochester in time to enroll in grade school at Lewis H. Morgan Elementary School (#37.) As a child, Jimmy was always working with his hands; he did art projects, built soap box derby cars, constructed model boats and cars. He was ambitious; he made and sold Christmas ornaments, rose trellises, was a paperboy, shoveled snow, cut grass and worked as a stock boy at the White Star Supermarket.
He attended Edison Technical and Industrial High School for their aviation program, graduating in 1959. It was there that he also learned how to weld. He held a job as a line boy at the Rochester Airport. At age 16, he soloed and eventually went on to complete his private, commercial and instructor's licenses. As a young adult, he taught flying at Hylan Airport before he signed up for the Army in 1961. He liked being in the service, he was trained as an airframe mechanic and had a great group of Army buddies. After the Army (1965) and not really wanting to go back to being a flight instructor, he took a job as a welder in an ornamental iron shop. He also went on a blind date with a student nurse, Phyllis Murray from Highland Hospital. He believed in love at first sight and they were married in 1967.
In 1968, Jim decided to follow his parents in their self-employed footsteps and became an entrepreneur extraordinaire. With a $50 work table, anvil and other miscellaneous tools, he rented a garage on Buffalo Road and founded Village Wrought Iron. There he started making custom wrought iron railings that he sold to Rochester area builders and homeowners. He outgrew the garage and purchased some land, a house and machine shop on Morgan Road. He would continue his passion for flying since the property had enough acreage for him to put in a runway. Through the years, Jim added more home products: skylights, custom mirrors and shower doors, closet shelving, fireplace doors, central vacuums and retractable awnings. Another building was added and Rochester Skylight and Builders and Buyers Specialties Inc. were born.
During the same time as running his businesses, Jim also found time to spend with his daughters out in the yard with a go kart he adapted for just for their small size, teaching them to drive a Rupp Roadster on the runway, drive a stickshift and many, many hours building Soap Box Derby cars with Tracy and Amy. It gave him great pleasure to watch his girls beat out the boys and win Jr and Sr Championships and then race at Nationals in Akron, Ohio. He took them to car shows and airshows, taught them how to waterski, use tools, shoot a gun and raised them like the boys he didn't have. He showed them that nothing was impossible, it just took hard work and determination.
After 35 years of long hours, hard physical labor and health issues, it was time to retire. Retirement took him to Florida, spending the last 19 winters in La Belle. He spent his time enjoying his passions. He built an ultralight, soloed in a glider and spent his summers driving his 1969 Volkswagon and 1933 Model B Ford.
He spent 40 years remodeling the family farmhouse and what he did to the bathroom was his pride and joy- an indoor outhouse . It was complete with a 1909 Sears & Roebuck Catalog, flypaper and an oil lamp. Antiquing, sketching, planting trees & flowers, reading, tinkering, folding dollar bills into shirts, fixing things, making things better, and going out for ice cream were all things Jim loved to do. Throughout his life, whether it was his pet crow, barn cats or one of thirteen dogs over the years, he always loved taking care of animals.
Grandchildren describe him as generational, kind, thoughtful, witty, fascinating, creative, admirable, lover of chocolate ice cream, adventurous and loving.
Nieces and nephews remember fun times with Uncle Jimmy; spending time at the lake and Bristol, going on vacations and the "clubhouse."
Jim had a few favorite original quotes:
"Not bad for a beginner" (said to the cook)
"Stand up straight, smile and be 5 minutes early" (said to the kids)
"Come again when you can stay longer" (said to parting company)
Jim attended the First Baptist Church in Chili and Carlton United Methodist Church in LaBelle.
He was a volunteer firefighter for the Clifton Fire Department for 54 years.
The family is very grateful for the exceptional care Jim received from the many caring and dedicated doctors and their staff through the years at URMC.
Family and friends may call Saturday, June 17th from 11am-2pm at the Leo M. Bean and Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital, Office of Advancement, PO Box 278996 Rochester, NY 14627 or the Clifton Fire Dept., 53 Wheatland Center Rd. Clifton, NY 14428.
Jim's battle with cancer ended May 3, 2023 in Labelle, Florida at age 83. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Phyllis; loyal and devoted sister, Jill Coffey; beloved and faithful daughters, Tracy A. (Kevin) Brown and Amy J. (Scott) Scholand of GA; chosen daughter, Wanda Sampayo of NYC; dear and caring brother-in-law and advisor, James (Louise) Murray; adored grandchildren, Brennan, Tim, Ryan, Sarah Brown, Colin and Anna Scholand; exceptional nieces, nephews, cousins; lifelong pal, Ron Compertore; and many other very loyal friends. Jim was predeceased by his parents, James Henry and Wilma Elliott Godette.Jimmy spent much of his early childhood in Florida as his father was working for Embry Riddle teaching primary pilots how to fly and later delivered planes to the theaters of war for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He arrived back in Rochester in time to enroll in grade school at Lewis H. Morgan Elementary School (#37.) As a child, Jimmy was always working with his hands; he did art projects, built soap box derby cars, constructed model boats and cars. He was ambitious; he made and sold Christmas ornaments, rose trellises, was a paperboy, shoveled snow, cut grass and worked as a stock boy at the White Star Supermarket.
He attended Edison Technical and Industrial High School for their aviation program, graduating in 1959. It was there that he also learned how to weld. He held a job as a line boy at the Rochester Airport. At age 16, he soloed and eventually went on to complete his private, commercial and instructor's licenses. As a young adult, he taught flying at Hylan Airport before he signed up for the Army in 1961. He liked being in the service, he was trained as an airframe mechanic and had a great group of Army buddies. After the Army (1965) and not really wanting to go back to being a flight instructor, he took a job as a welder in an ornamental iron shop. He also went on a blind date with a student nurse, Phyllis Murray from Highland Hospital. He believed in love at first sight and they were married in 1967.
In 1968, Jim decided to follow his parents in their self-employed footsteps and became an entrepreneur extraordinaire. With a $50 work table, anvil and other miscellaneous tools, he rented a garage on Buffalo Road and founded Village Wrought Iron. There he started making custom wrought iron railings that he sold to Rochester area builders and homeowners. He outgrew the garage and purchased some land, a house and machine shop on Morgan Road. He would continue his passion for flying since the property had enough acreage for him to put in a runway. Through the years, Jim added more home products: skylights, custom mirrors and shower doors, closet shelving, fireplace doors, central vacuums and retractable awnings. Another building was added and Rochester Skylight and Builders and Buyers Specialties Inc. were born.
During the same time as running his businesses, Jim also found time to spend with his daughters out in the yard with a go kart he adapted for just for their small size, teaching them to drive a Rupp Roadster on the runway, drive a stickshift and many, many hours building Soap Box Derby cars with Tracy and Amy. It gave him great pleasure to watch his girls beat out the boys and win Jr and Sr Championships and then race at Nationals in Akron, Ohio. He took them to car shows and airshows, taught them how to waterski, use tools, shoot a gun and raised them like the boys he didn't have. He showed them that nothing was impossible, it just took hard work and determination.
After 35 years of long hours, hard physical labor and health issues, it was time to retire. Retirement took him to Florida, spending the last 19 winters in La Belle. He spent his time enjoying his passions. He built an ultralight, soloed in a glider and spent his summers driving his 1969 Volkswagon and 1933 Model B Ford.
He spent 40 years remodeling the family farmhouse and what he did to the bathroom was his pride and joy- an indoor outhouse . It was complete with a 1909 Sears & Roebuck Catalog, flypaper and an oil lamp. Antiquing, sketching, planting trees & flowers, reading, tinkering, folding dollar bills into shirts, fixing things, making things better, and going out for ice cream were all things Jim loved to do. Throughout his life, whether it was his pet crow, barn cats or one of thirteen dogs over the years, he always loved taking care of animals.
Grandchildren describe him as generational, kind, thoughtful, witty, fascinating, creative, admirable, lover of chocolate ice cream, adventurous and loving.
Nieces and nephews remember fun times with Uncle Jimmy; spending time at the lake and Bristol, going on vacations and the "clubhouse."
Jim had a few favorite original quotes:
"Not bad for a beginner" (said to the cook)
"Stand up straight, smile and be 5 minutes early" (said to the kids)
"Come again when you can stay longer" (said to parting company)
Jim attended the First Baptist Church in Chili and Carlton United Methodist Church in LaBelle.
He was a volunteer firefighter for the Clifton Fire Department for 54 years.
The family is very grateful for the exceptional care Jim received from the many caring and dedicated doctors and their staff through the years at URMC.
Family and friends may call Saturday, June 17th from 11am-2pm at the Leo M. Bean and Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital, Office of Advancement, PO Box 278996 Rochester, NY 14627 or the Clifton Fire Dept., 53 Wheatland Center Rd. Clifton, NY 14428.
Obituary for James Robert Godette
Jim's battle with cancer ended May 3, 2023 in Labelle, Florida at age 83. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Phyllis; loyal and devoted sister, Jill Coffey; beloved and faithful daughters, Tracy A. (Kevin) Brown and Amy J. (Scott) Scholand of GA; chosen daughter, Wanda Sampayo of NYC; dear and caring brother-in-law and advisor, James (Louise) Murray; adored grandchildren, Brennan, Tim, Ryan, Sarah Brown, Colin and Anna Scholand; exceptional nieces, nephews, cousins; lifelong pal, Ron Compertore; and many other very loyal friends. Jim was predeceased by his parents, James Henry and Wilma Elliott Godette.Jimmy spent much of his early childhood in Florida as his father was working for Embry Riddle teaching primary pilots how to fly and later delivered planes to the theaters of war for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He arrived back in Rochester in time to enroll in grade school at Lewis H. Morgan Elementary School (#37.) As a child, Jimmy was always working with his hands; he did art projects, built soap box derby cars, constructed model boats and cars. He was ambitious; he made and sold Christmas ornaments, rose trellises, was a paperboy, shoveled snow, cut grass and worked as a stock boy at the White Star Supermarket.
He attended Edison Technical and Industrial High School for their aviation program, graduating in 1959. It was there that he also learned how to weld. He held a job as a line boy at the Rochester Airport. At age 16, he soloed and eventually went on to complete his private, commercial and instructor's licenses. As a young adult, he taught flying at Hylan Airport before he signed up for the Army in 1961. He liked being in the service, he was trained as an airframe mechanic and had a great group of Army buddies. After the Army (1965) and not really wanting to go back to being a flight instructor, he took a job as a welder in an ornamental iron shop. He also went on a blind date with a student nurse, Phyllis Murray from Highland Hospital. He believed in love at first sight and they were married in 1967.
In 1968, Jim decided to follow his parents in their self-employed footsteps and became an entrepreneur extraordinaire. With a $50 work table, anvil and other miscellaneous tools, he rented a garage on Buffalo Road and founded Village Wrought Iron. There he started making custom wrought iron railings that he sold to Rochester area builders and homeowners. He outgrew the garage and purchased some land, a house and machine shop on Morgan Road. He would continue his passion for flying since the property had enough acreage for him to put in a runway. Through the years, Jim added more home products: skylights, custom mirrors and shower doors, closet shelving, fireplace doors, central vacuums and retractable awnings. Another building was added and Rochester Skylight and Builders and Buyers Specialties Inc. were born.
During the same time as running his businesses, Jim also found time to spend with his daughters out in the yard with a go kart he adapted for just for their small size, teaching them to drive a Rupp Roadster on the runway, drive a stickshift and many, many hours building Soap Box Derby cars with Tracy and Amy. It gave him great pleasure to watch his girls beat out the boys and win Jr and Sr Championships and then race at Nationals in Akron, Ohio. He took them to car shows and airshows, taught them how to waterski, use tools, shoot a gun and raised them like the boys he didn't have. He showed them that nothing was impossible, it just took hard work and determination.
After 35 years of long hours, hard physical labor and health issues, it was time to retire. Retirement took him to Florida, spending the last 19 winters in La Belle. He spent his time enjoying his passions. He built an ultralight, soloed in a glider and spent his summers driving his 1969 Volkswagon and 1933 Model B Ford.
He spent 40 years remodeling the family farmhouse and what he did to the bathroom was his pride and joy- an indoor outhouse . It was complete with a 1909 Sears & Roebuck Catalog, flypaper and an oil lamp. Antiquing, sketching, planting trees & flowers, reading, tinkering, folding dollar bills into shirts, fixing things, making things better, and going out for ice cream were all things Jim loved to do. Throughout his life, whether it was his pet crow, barn cats or one of thirteen dogs over the years, he always loved taking care of animals.
Grandchildren describe him as generational, kind, thoughtful, witty, fascinating, creative, admirable, lover of chocolate ice cream, adventurous and loving.
Nieces and nephews remember fun times with Uncle Jimmy; spending time at the lake and Bristol, going on vacations and the "clubhouse."
Jim had a few favorite original quotes:
"Not bad for a beginner" (said to the cook)
"Stand up straight, smile and be 5 minutes early" (said to the kids)
"Come again when you can stay longer" (said to parting company)
Jim attended the First Baptist Church in Chili and Carlton United Methodist Church in LaBelle.
He was a volunteer firefighter for the Clifton Fire Department for 54 years.
The family is very grateful for the exceptional care Jim received from the many caring and dedicated doctors and their staff through the years at URMC.
Family and friends may call Saturday, June 17th from 11am-2pm at the Leo M. Bean and Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital, Office of Advancement, PO Box 278996 Rochester, NY 14627 or the Clifton Fire Dept., 53 Wheatland Center Rd. Clifton, NY 14428.
Jim's battle with cancer ended May 3, 2023 in Labelle, Florida at age 83. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Phyllis; loyal and devoted sister, Jill Coffey; beloved and faithful daughters, Tracy A. (Kevin) Brown and Amy J. (Scott) Scholand of GA; chosen daughter, Wanda Sampayo of NYC; dear and caring brother-in-law and advisor, James (Louise) Murray; adored grandchildren, Brennan, Tim, Ryan, Sarah Brown, Colin and Anna Scholand; exceptional nieces, nephews, cousins; lifelong pal, Ron Compertore; and many other very loyal friends. Jim was predeceased by his parents, James Henry and Wilma Elliott Godette.Jimmy spent much of his early childhood in Florida as his father was working for Embry Riddle teaching primary pilots how to fly and later delivered planes to the theaters of war for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He arrived back in Rochester in time to enroll in grade school at Lewis H. Morgan Elementary School (#37.) As a child, Jimmy was always working with his hands; he did art projects, built soap box derby cars, constructed model boats and cars. He was ambitious; he made and sold Christmas ornaments, rose trellises, was a paperboy, shoveled snow, cut grass and worked as a stock boy at the White Star Supermarket.
He attended Edison Technical and Industrial High School for their aviation program, graduating in 1959. It was there that he also learned how to weld. He held a job as a line boy at the Rochester Airport. At age 16, he soloed and eventually went on to complete his private, commercial and instructor's licenses. As a young adult, he taught flying at Hylan Airport before he signed up for the Army in 1961. He liked being in the service, he was trained as an airframe mechanic and had a great group of Army buddies. After the Army (1965) and not really wanting to go back to being a flight instructor, he took a job as a welder in an ornamental iron shop. He also went on a blind date with a student nurse, Phyllis Murray from Highland Hospital. He believed in love at first sight and they were married in 1967.
In 1968, Jim decided to follow his parents in their self-employed footsteps and became an entrepreneur extraordinaire. With a $50 work table, anvil and other miscellaneous tools, he rented a garage on Buffalo Road and founded Village Wrought Iron. There he started making custom wrought iron railings that he sold to Rochester area builders and homeowners. He outgrew the garage and purchased some land, a house and machine shop on Morgan Road. He would continue his passion for flying since the property had enough acreage for him to put in a runway. Through the years, Jim added more home products: skylights, custom mirrors and shower doors, closet shelving, fireplace doors, central vacuums and retractable awnings. Another building was added and Rochester Skylight and Builders and Buyers Specialties Inc. were born.
During the same time as running his businesses, Jim also found time to spend with his daughters out in the yard with a go kart he adapted for just for their small size, teaching them to drive a Rupp Roadster on the runway, drive a stickshift and many, many hours building Soap Box Derby cars with Tracy and Amy. It gave him great pleasure to watch his girls beat out the boys and win Jr and Sr Championships and then race at Nationals in Akron, Ohio. He took them to car shows and airshows, taught them how to waterski, use tools, shoot a gun and raised them like the boys he didn't have. He showed them that nothing was impossible, it just took hard work and determination.
After 35 years of long hours, hard physical labor and health issues, it was time to retire. Retirement took him to Florida, spending the last 19 winters in La Belle. He spent his time enjoying his passions. He built an ultralight, soloed in a glider and spent his summers driving his 1969 Volkswagon and 1933 Model B Ford.
He spent 40 years remodeling the family farmhouse and what he did to the bathroom was his pride and joy- an indoor outhouse . It was complete with a 1909 Sears & Roebuck Catalog, flypaper and an oil lamp. Antiquing, sketching, planting trees & flowers, reading, tinkering, folding dollar bills into shirts, fixing things, making things better, and going out for ice cream were all things Jim loved to do. Throughout his life, whether it was his pet crow, barn cats or one of thirteen dogs over the years, he always loved taking care of animals.
Grandchildren describe him as generational, kind, thoughtful, witty, fascinating, creative, admirable, lover of chocolate ice cream, adventurous and loving.
Nieces and nephews remember fun times with Uncle Jimmy; spending time at the lake and Bristol, going on vacations and the "clubhouse."
Jim had a few favorite original quotes:
"Not bad for a beginner" (said to the cook)
"Stand up straight, smile and be 5 minutes early" (said to the kids)
"Come again when you can stay longer" (said to parting company)
Jim attended the First Baptist Church in Chili and Carlton United Methodist Church in LaBelle.
He was a volunteer firefighter for the Clifton Fire Department for 54 years.
The family is very grateful for the exceptional care Jim received from the many caring and dedicated doctors and their staff through the years at URMC.
Family and friends may call Saturday, June 17th from 11am-2pm at the Leo M. Bean and Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital, Office of Advancement, PO Box 278996 Rochester, NY 14627 or the Clifton Fire Dept., 53 Wheatland Center Rd. Clifton, NY 14428.
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