James Murry "Jim" Dickey

James “Jim” Murry Dickey, an extraordinary inspiration to so many, passed away at his home September 16th, 2021, from his courageous battle with heart disease and complications of COVID-19. James Dickey was born August 10th, 1939, to parents Oline (Allison) Dickey and John C. Dickey in Charleston, Mississippi. After the divorce of his parents at age 5, James moved with his father and grandmother “Big Mother” to Butte, Montana where he quickly learned to disguise his Southern gentleman drawl and to fight for his life against the tough street bullies.  His street fighting skills served him well when a few years later his family moved to Billings, MT where he made lifelong, loyal friends who supported him to the end.   He participated in football, basketball, lifeguarding and his true love boxing, becoming The Montana State Amateur Boxing Champ in 1956 and 1957 before graduating from Billing’s Senior High in 58’ and immediately shipping off to the US Navy in August of that year. 

He continued to fight during his Navy tenure throughout The Southwest Asian Islands enabling him to meet and spar with one of his boxing idols, the great Filipino featherweight Flash Elorde. Following his honorable discharge, James eventually moved to Boise where he met Marilyn Ann Freeman and had his firstborn and only son, Blake James Dickey.  While attending Boise Junior College in 1965, Jim married his wife of 30 years, Dicksie June Servoss, and was recruited to counsel and educate young men at the Burns, OR and Marsing ID, US Job Corp.  During the next seven years he was somehow able to continue his ardent work at the Job Corp whilst raising three daughters, graduating with a 1971 Bachelor of Arts from Boise State College, and teaching a semester of US Government at Bishop Kelly High. 

In the next 10-year post-graduation period, James wore many professional hats including Assistant Manager at The Roadway Inn Hotel, Idaho Supreme Courts’ Head of Presentence Investigation, and later became an Ada County Juvenile Detention Counselor and substitute teacher while achieving his Master of Education Degree at The College of Idaho in 1982. Although he worked in Wine and law book sales, his true love and calling was teaching.  Eventually, at the request of The Idaho Judiciary, he teamed up with his wife, Dicksie, and a former Idaho Attorney General to launch the first private, court ordered DUI Alcohol/Drug Education and Prevention school in Idaho.  Throughout his years, Jim helped institute the YMCA basketball program (YBA) for children in the Boise area. Jim ensured that sportsmanship and the YMCA values were upheld, but moreover, he reminded parents that unconditional love far outweighed any other aspect of the game.

Jim maintained his adoration for the sport of boxing by inspiring and coordinating healthy sparring competition and ensured sportsmanship amongst the inmates at the penitentiary. He became a well-known ring announcer at Idaho boxing matches and smokers throughout Idaho and was on the Idaho State boxing commission for multiple years.  His boxing affiliations and friends remained near and dear to him until his final breath.

Jim was bigger than life and possessed the rare gift of lighting up a room and infusing it with positive energy intent on making every person and situation better and happier than he found them/it. No matter your age, gender, color, culture, or creed, he was fully committed to building your self-confidence and opening your mind and heart to love, laughter and hope.

He is survived by his four adoring children, Blake Dickey, Tina (Scott) Thompson, Tami Dickey, and Jamie (John) Cunningham. He is forever loved by his grandchildren, Taylor, Riley (Suzanne), Evan (Brittani), Abigail, Keefer, Ashlee (Tobe), Nicholas, Ryian, Jack, Bailey, Claire, and Josie as well as great granddaughters, Espyn and Quincy, and his sister Annelle “Nell” Stephensen and her son Craig Dickey. He is preceded in death by his mother Oline Allison Futhy, his father John C Dickey, his beloved “Big Mother” who raised him, his nephew Tommy Stephensen, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

A viewing will take place on Monday September 27th, 2021, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Saint John’s Chapel, 807 North 8th Street Boise. A short service with military honors will be held at Idaho Veterans Cemetery (10100 Horseshoe Bend Road) on September 28th, 2021, at 10:45 a.m. sharp, followed by an open house celebration of his joyous life well lived at The Two Rivers Clubhouse (261 W. Island Woods Drive Eagle, ID). We invite you to enjoy food, beverages and share your memories of our one-of-a-kind father, grandfather, cheerleader, and friend.

Memorials may be made to the The Boise Rescue Mission and/or  YMCA youth programs. Arrangements are under Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

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