Mr. James Jerald Champion age 87 of Owl Creek Hiawassee passed away peacefully on July 1, 2016 in the Chatuge Regional Nursing Home following an extended illness. Mr. Champion was born on April 14, 1929 in Rome, GA., the son of the late Mitchell Champion and the late Molly Pendley Champion. James was a member of the Unicoy Mason Lodge #259 F&AM.

He enjoyed tinkering on old cars and loved repairing just about anything with a small engine on it. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great and great-great grandfather. James was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Surviving Mr. Champion are his loving wife, Bonnie Parker Champion of Hiawassee, one daughter and son in law, Linda and Benny Collins of Young Harris, one son and daughter in law, Charles and Genievieve Champion of Hiawassee, four grandchildren, Michele Shelton, Craig Collins, Johnny (Lucretia) Collins and Angie Debord, seven great grandchildren, Natasha Davis, Lauren Hamby, Jake Collins, Stella Collins, Reed Debord, Bryce Champion, Emma Champion and Kole Jenkins, two great grandchildren, Mason Davis and Katie Davis, several nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends also survive.

A private graveside service will be held from the Russell Cemetery in Hiawassee. In lieu of flowers if you wish, the family requests that donations may be made to the Chatuge Nursing Home Activities Department in Mr. Champion’s memory. Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com