James Lee Fincher

James Lee Fincher, 95, died on May 22, 2025, at his home in Fountain View Village in Fountain Hills, AZ.

He was born on October 29, 1929 in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Wilma and Elton Fincher of Downing.

He lived in Iowa, Missouri and Tennessee before moving to Scottsdale Arizona in 2017 and then to Fountain Hills in 2000.

He was married to his beloved Norma for 73 glorious years of love, laughter, raising their daughters, plus lots of travel — to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.

Jim began working with his father on the family farm, then moved to Ottumwa and Agency, Iowa, to work for John Morrell & Co. for 35 years, including a transfer with them to Memphis, Tennessee.
He was community minded and served as a town councilman and volunteer fireman in Agency, IA.

After retiring in TN, he wasn’t idle. He worked for Enterprise Cars, AT&T/Intel/Nokia, and Hutchinson Girls School. But his lifelong joy was being a musician. In Iowa, Jim sang and played the five-string banjo and guitar in two bands: ”Ed Muchow and the Bluegrass Gang” and “The Midwest Ramblers” country dance band. Later in Tennessee, he played with Ed Rains as a piano/banjo duo at Shakey’s Pizza and with other bands for music festivals throughout the Midwest and Mid South. The Bluegrass Gang had their own TV show, “Country Pickin’ Time”, in Ottumwa on KTVO. Theirs was the go to opening band for major stars on tour and the band requested to play for Dolly Parton.

Jim was also chosen to be in the movie “The Firm” with Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman that was filmed in Memphis.

During their 40+ years in Memphis, TN, Jim and Norma enjoyed square dancing with the Peppermint Squares. They loved nature and hitting the road to explore new places locally and across the country. They would barely return home when they would be planning their next adventure trip.

We will miss our loving father and dear friend, the most honest, authentic, salt of the earth man with a truly genuine, great character.

Jim is predeceased by his loving wife Norma Brown Fincher and his parents: Elton and Wilma Fincher; his sister Nola Fountain; his son-in-law Arthur Winters; his step grandson André Rauen.

He is survived by his daughters: Connie (Jack) Rauen of Durango, CO, and family; Peggy Fincher Winters of New York City, NY and family; his brothers: Ken Fincher of Junction City, KS and family,
and Don (Pat) Fincher of Mesa, AZ and family. Brother-in-law Eugene (Jona Lee) Brown of Columbia, MO and family; and a loving extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, step grands,
greats to great great grandchildren.

Jim and Norma will be interred together in their family resting place at the Memphis Cemetery on June 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.