Obituary of James Earl Lilly

On Wednesday, September 11th, James Lilly departed into the great unknown, where his curious spirit and sense of wonder can delight in this next grand adventure. Jim was born July 31, 1960 in Beckley, WV. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Basil Lilly and Ailene 'Cawley' Lilly. He is survived by his wife, Linda 'Pratt' Lilly, his two daughters, Sarah Grace and Victoria Lynn and by his two brothers, William Robert 'Bob' Lilly and Roger Dean Lilly. In Jim's early years he excelled in school while helping his Dad and brothers in the family electrical business. Jim played tennis throughout high school and became a National Merit Scholar his senior year. While in college at WVU Jim began working for WVNET where he honed his computer knowledge. He had his friends on the internet before any lay person knew what it was. Upon leaving school, Jim began working as a Master Electrician for the former Electric Equipment Company in Morgantown. He remained in the field for several years, before getting promoted to Senior Electrical Estimator, the position that defined the latter half of his working life. Like so many West Virginians, he grew up among humble beginnings in the shadow of our southern coal fields – beginnings that bestowed on Jim a strong work ethic, a charitable heart, unmatched resourcefulness and a deep sense of pride for his state and fellow man. From childhood he learned how to build houses alongside his father and two brothers, utilizing these early skills to keep his family afloat in a community with limited resources. From his mother he learned the importance of always being a kind and generous community member. A passion for knowing how things are built and crafted was imbued into his spirit and was further ignited by the technological revolution of the 1980's. His love of the science field melded into present day advancements and he took the lead on learning all the ins and outs that this new age could offer. His unimaginable array of skills allowed him to be everyone's engineer; his generosity shined through his know-how and his love was deeply felt as the family's #1 problem solver with all things mechanical and technical. And yet, for all his material knowledge and technical prowess, it was his more intangible qualities that spoke loudest to everyone he met. Jim was as lovable as they come. He held his friends close yet treated strangers with an equal amount of warmth. His circle was never closed off to others and as a consequence, a beautiful, far-reaching group of friends-turned-family seemed to blossom around him. He was the cultivator and chief of all things joyous, silly and fun and seemed to effortlessly tap into the true spirit of a life well lived. He loved with warmth and humor and never hesitated to express these feelings with friends and family. Jim's spirit was deeply moved by music and despite never mastering an instrument (except for the shaker nut and kazoo!), he always brought the tunes. Whether he was rallying musicians at the campsite, handing out his "best of" CDs to strangers or getting front stage for a set – there was no shortage of music in his life and the ones he loved. Jim made us all feel rich by emphasizing that which mattered most to him – close friends, good tunes and a tasty beer for share. We were all made better by his generous, light-hearted company. Despite the absence now felt in our hearts, his wonderful spirit will continue to live on in all of us. Rest easy King Chief. Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation arrangements. Please click on the following link for more information concerning Jim's Festival of Life Celebration: https://www.facebook.com/events/808275957876838/permalink/808276664543434/?notif_id=1727034689664006&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif