Obituaries
James Hart
By
Jun 17, 2010, 13:11

James Olen Hart was born at Maxie Mississippi, September 10, 1933, the fifth child and second son of Harvey B and Ethel Hart. His childhood was spent on a small farm—working, hunting, fishing.
He received his high school diploma from Forrest County Agricultural High School, Brooklyn. His last two years were spent as a dormitory student. His love of animals landed him a job in the school diary.
He received his associate degree from Perkinston Junior College, Perkinston, in 1952; then spend four years with the US Air Force Peacekeeping team in Okinawa.
After leaving the Air Force he enrolled in the University of Southwest Louisiana, Lafayette, where he met his wife, Norma Love. He received his B.S. in biology and began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working in Fish Hatcheries—Lyman, Marion, AL, Cohutta, GA and Natchitoches, LA where he retired.
It was in Alabama (Selma) that his four sons were born.
Wherever he was he became active in the Methodist church and in a civic organization. He began work with the Boy Scouts while in Marion, where he classified all of the trees in Alabama. He continued with the Boy Scouts and led two groups to Philmont.
Jim Hart had many hobbies. He identified and photographed hundreds of birds. He was a woodworker, building furniture for family and friends and building (with the help of family and friends) his own home with staircase and cabinets. Drama students at NSU will remember his helping them construct stage sets. An avid genealogist, he traced his lineage back several generations.
His love of the outdoors included many special days spent in Olla—hunting with his brother-in-law, John Love, and others. Camping with the Cane River Campers was a special joy, because the members are family to Jim and Norma. Each July a week at the Texas Christian Ashram, with our Christian family there, was a highlight of the year. Most important to Jim was his Christian family at Natchitoches First United Methodist Church, who has walked with him through the years on his faith journey. The joy of his life was being with his sons and their families, especially during Cousin Camp when he had all of his grandchildren for a week.
His survivors include his wife of 49 years, Norma Love Hart, sons, Charles T. Hart (Lina), of Chattanooga, TN and David Hart (Ginger) of Edmonton, Canada; grandchildren, Sarah, Alex, Rachel and Michael; daughter-in-law, Martha (Mrs. Kenneth Hart); sister, Earline Hart, of Wiggins, brother, A.D. Hart (Lois) of Wiggins, nine nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Kenneth Hart and Geofrey Hart and family (Christy and Rebekah), sisters, Bernice Hart, Inez Sellers, and Ethel Rea Flowers.
A memorial service was held Monday, June 14, 2010, Natchitoches First United Methodist Church.
The family requests that memorials be made to Troop 60, Boy Scouts of America, or to the First United Methodist Church, Natchitoches, LA.


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