Obituary of Jimmy L. Fausett

Jimmy Loy “Jim” Fausett died unexpectedly in Iowa City, Iowa on May 24, 2017 at the age of 85.  Jim had been a resident of Coralville, Iowa since March 1959 and served for many years on the town council and later as the city’s mayor.

Jim was born in Springfield, Missouri on November 18, 1931, the son of  Ferrell and Verna Fausett. He grew up on a farm near Clark, Missouri and graduated from nearby Harrisburg High School and the University of Missouri.  College was interrupted by the war in Korea, as Jim was part of the ROTC Program at Missouri and a member of the National Guard.  Jim served with the US Army in Korea as part of a water purification unit.

Jim married his wife of almost 64 years, Carol (Riggins) Fausett, in June 1953.  After college, Jim and Carol moved to the Coralville area where he was a field man for the Iowa Farm Bureau.  In 1966, he took a job in purchasing/scientific supply with the University of Iowa and, starting in 1973, worked in central supply at the University of Iowa Dental School.  He served as manager of services there until his retirement in 1997.

Jim cherished his time spent with grandkids, playing bridge with friends and also enjoyed antique cars.  He rarely missed any school or sports activity for his kids or grandkids.  He loved gardening, animals, and feeding the birds and backyard wildlife at his Coralville home. Jim also enjoyed camping, photography, fishing, hunting, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
 
Jim coached flag football, Babe Ruth baseball, and was active as a Boy Scout Troop Leader for many years.  He loved bringing the Scouts to city hall to learn about civics and city government.

After Jim and Carol’s son Kevin died in 1977, they helped start a Compassionate Friends chapter to help parents deal with the death of a child. They were members of the Coralville United Methodist Church where Jim served on the Board of Trustees.  He also enjoyed serving with the Kiwanis Club.

Jim served on the Coralville City Council for 18 years starting in 1978 and then served 18 more years as the city’s mayor.  He was proud to have helped start the Coralville bus system and to have presided over much of Coralville’s current growth including Coral Ridge Mall, the Iowa River Landing and the UI Research Park.  Jim served as the President of the Iowa League of Cities and also served on the National League of Cities.  
 
During ceremonies incidental to his retirement as mayor in 2013, Jim often referred to the City of Coralville as he and Carol’s “fifth child.”  He stayed involved and served the city however he could up until his death.  The Jim L Fausett Theater at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts was named in Jim’s honor when it opened in 2011. 
 
Jim lived a life of service to others and taught his children and grandchildren to always put others first.  Jim taught us to treat all members of our community with respect.  For someone who served for so many years in city government, Jim was surprisingly nonpartisan, and he counted among his friends members of all political parties.  He was a peacemaker at heart who both informally and formally served in the role of mediator.  Jim rarely had a cross word for anyone and tried to see all issues from many points of view.

Jim’s number one priorities in life were church, family and the good of the community that he served.  While his death leaves a large hole in our family and community, we can best honor Jim by trying to follow his example of loving God and loving our neighbors.

Once one of the grandkids asked Jim what he wanted to be remembered for, what to put on his tombstone. He said “Here lies a fair man.” But “fair” isn’t quite enough; Jim Fausett was a champion for fairness. He treated everybody he met the way he expected to be treated, and he is the greatest example of how to live a great life any of us could ever want.

His family includes his wife, Carol; their children, Karen Fausett of Grinnell, IA; Kirk Fausett (Lora) of Wheaton, IL and Kendra Basler (David) of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Kevin, Lucy and Jackson Fausett and Samuel, Grace and Eli Basler; and Jim’s sister-in-law, Shirley Fausett.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents, son Kevin; brother, Bobby Fausett; sister and her husband, Neldena and Joe Smith.

Services celebrating Jim’s life will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, with burial to follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville where military honors will be provided.  Visitation will be from 3 to 6 pm Monday at the Coralville United Methodist Church.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Jim Fausett Memorial Fund, 814 14th Ave, Coralville, IA 52241.

For a more complete obituary, an opportunity to share a memory, thought or condolence with Jim’s family, please go to the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.  Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for Jim’s family and his services.