James George Feiber, Jr. Obituary (1942 - 1955)

James George Feiber, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on 1 August, 2015. Jimmy Feiber was born in New Orleans on 15 December 1942. Following his father's unexpected death, in 1955, his mother, Kittie, and two brothers, Tommy and Johnny, moved to Gainesville to be near his mother's family. Jimmy graduated from Gainesville High School in 1960 where he met many of his lifelong friends. It was at GHS where he and Mary Gracy met and shared the same homeroom for four years. Like many of his peers, Jimmy joined the Army and was on active duty during parts of 1960, 1961 and 1962. Jimmy enrolled at the University of Florida in January 1961, but was called back to active duty when his Army Reserve unit was mobilized in September of 1961. He was released from active duty in August of 1962 and resumed his education at the University of Florida. While in college he worked at the UF Library and at Donigan's clothing store. Jimmy majored in Political Science and graduated in 1965. In the fall of 1966, Jimmy was accepted to as a member of the charter class of the Florida State University's College of Law. Although he appreciates his law school education at "State" and the wonderful friends he made while in Tallahassee, Jimmy and Mary are diehard Florida Gators. Jimmy and Mary Gracy were married in 1964 in Gainesville and celebrated their 50th anniversary last August. Mary and Jimmy's daughter, Gracy, was born in 1965 and their son, Jimmy, was born in 1967. Mary was an elementary school teacher for 27 years in Alachua, Leon, and Wakulla counties, including 23 years in Alachua county schools. Since her retirement from teaching in 1999, she has been employed full time keeping Jimmy moving in the right direction. After graduating from law school in 1969, the family moved back to Gainesville where Jimmy joined long-time friends, David West and Nath Doughtie who had established the law firm of West and Doughtie. In 1979, Jimmy, Nancy Yenser and Jim Salter formed Salter, Feiber and Yenser. Over the years that law firm has had many associations, becoming the firm it is today - Salter, Feiber, Murphy, Hutson and Menet, recently shortened to Salter Feiber, P.A.. Jimmy and James D. Salter, his "Senior Partner", have been partners for over 40 years. With the support of the other lawyers in the firm, Melissa Murphy, Denise Hutson, David Menet, Katie Floyd, Jack Bovay and Jennifer Lester, Jimmy was able to continue his practice into its 46th year "helping people." Jimmy took great pride in being a plaintiff's attorney and representing clients who suffered injuries. When asked what type of law he practiced, Jimmy always replied, "I represent the injured." Jimmy had the honor of serving on the Board of Trustees of Santa Fe Community College from 1971- 1982. He also served on the original committee appointed by the Gainesville City Commission in the mid-seventies to study, make recommendations and promote downtown redevelopment in Gainesville. In 1981, Jimmy was elected President of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association. Today, the Eighth Judicial Circuit has over 800 active members of the Florida Bar practicing law in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties. He has served on the Board of Governors for the Florida Bar representing the Eighth Judicial Circuit. He was a member of several state and federal law-related organizations and was active in their leadership. In 2007, Jimmy had a successful heart transplant which allowed him to resume his active life. Jimmy was predeceased by his father, James George Feiber, his mother Katherine Kincaid Feiber and his brother Thomas Murray Feiber. He is survived by his wife Mary, his daughter Gracy Castine (Michael) His son Jimmy (Lisa), four grandchildren, Kittie, Elizabeth, James, and Lucy, and his brother John Kincaid Feiber (Denise). Jimmy was proud of the fact that he had family who resided in Gainesville since 1850, he thought of himself as a steward of Gainesville history. Jimmy was a gifted storyteller who entertained friends and family at every opportunity. Jimmy had an unquenchable desire to know everything about everyone he met and the gift to remember each of their stories. Jimmy enjoyed entertaining, visiting with friends, playing golf, walking, reading, and riling up his four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Heart and Neuromedicine Center at the UF Shands Medical Center, Three Rivers Legal Aide, or the charity of your choice. A Visitation will be held this evening from 5-7 p.m. at the Milam Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at St. Patrick Catholic Church 550 NE 16th Avenue Gainesville, FL. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gainesville.