Sharon "Shay" James

Longtime Jackson Hole resident Sharon “Shay” Orlin James, beloved wife of the late Clay James, died peacefully at home January 20 with her daughter and son beside her.  She was 76. The following was provided by her family.

Legendary woman, consummated hostess, devoted wife, proud mother and grandmother, a joyful, gracious woman who made a difference for so many people.  Those are just a few of the accolades pouring into the James family about Shay.  Legions of people know Shay and her generous good working in the Jackson community and as a gracious hostess for the Grand Teton Lodge Company, which her husband, Clay, led for many years.  She hosted countless events and welcomed literally thousands of people into her home on the grounds of Jackson Lake Lodge and alter at her valley home.  Shay’s life in Jackson spanned 40 plus years.

Before she and Clay returned permanently to Jackson in 1984, Shay too their two children to state from the East Coast to the West Coast, to the mountains and the ocean shores, a trip that included the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Washington, Texas and Florida.  But her most cherished home was Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, where she spent some of her adult life and where she took her last breath holding her daughter’s hand.

Shay was born on June 24, 1943, in Honokaa, Hawaii, to Margaret Franser and Thomas Orlin.  She spent her elementary school years in Paauile, on the Big Island of Hawaii, on a sugar plantation, where her father worked for the Hamakua Mill Company.  To expand her world, Shay. Like her mother before her, attend the Punahou School, a boarding school in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu.

Shay left Hawaii in 1961 to begin college.  She started at the University of Oregon in Eugene and continued at the University of Oregon School of Nursing in Portland.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1965.  She began her nursing career at Multnomah county Hospital in Portland as an evening charge nurse in the newborn nursery.

Shay managed to save enough from her nursing job in Portland to fly home to Hawaii so she could spend Christmas with her family.  It as during that Christmas trip she met her future husband, Clay, who was working at the Mauna Kae Beach Hotel.  Shay resigned her nursing post in Portland, returned to Hawaii and began nursing, first at the Laupahoehoe Sugar Plantation, then at Honokaa Hospital and later for a doctor’s office in Waimea.

In 1966, Shay and Clay were married in Waimea, Hawaii, and began their 49 years of life together as husband and wife, which included many moves around the country and personal travel adventures.  While their roots were firmly in Wyoming, Shay enjoyed traveling the world with her husband.  They visited Alaska, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Tasmania and Bora Bora.  They returned every year to Hawaii, the place Shay always held close in her heart.  In retirement they became snowbirds and bought a second home in Scottsdale, Arizona, which they enjoyed in the winter months.

Shay loved spending time with her two adult children and four grandchildren.  She was beloved by her grandchildren, who called her Tutu, a Hawaiian name for grandmother.  Her son, Scott, resides in Jackson and is dad to the James grandkids, Emma and Cole.  Emma lives in Denver, and Cole lives and works in Phoenix.  Her daughter McKenzie, owns her own business, Summit Appraisal Services in Jackson, and is mom to grandkids Rigdon and Riley Hammond.  They attend Jackson Hole Middle School and Colter Elementary School, respectively.

Shay served on many volunteer boards in Jackson, including the Grand Teton National Parks Foundation and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, as a founding board member of both, and the Jackson Hold Historical Society.  She served as membership chair of the Fine Art Guild and was a member of St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary.  Shay was an involved and devoted parent volunteer at the Moran School, helping with countless school events.  She was a Girl Scout troop leader for her daughter’s local troop.  She was an accomplished cook, baker and hostess and a supreme holiday decorator.  Lucky was the friend invited to her home for dinners and holiday parties.

Shay valiantly battled cancer throughout the last year of her life and never complained.  She was especially happy to recently celebrate two of her favorite holidays with her family, Halloween and Christmas, even hosting her annual Christmas Eve party with a full house of family and friends.

Shay will be remembered for so many things, among them her kindness and tireless good works.  But for anyone who knew Shay it was her warm and welcoming smile that so many will think of and miss the most.

Shay is survived by son Scott James, daughter McKenzie Hammond, grandchildren Emma and Cole James and Rigdon and Riley Hammond, sister Sandra Comacchio (Giulio) and brothers Thomas (Debbie) Orlin and Michael Orlin.

A celebration of Shay’s life is being planned for early summer, and the date will be announced in late spring.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Shay’s honor be made to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Moose, WY 83001.  Electronic donations can be made via the Foundation’s website, GTNPF.org.