James C. Relyea, 73 of Route 19, Belmont passed away on Sunday, May 14 2017 at his home.
Born in Springville, NY on May 26, 1943, he was the son of the late Clifford and Marion Austin Relyea. He grew up in Delevan, NY and has lived in Rochester, Belfast and Belmont. In 1961, he graduated from Delevan Machias Central School in Delevan. In the 1960's, he worked for Borden's cheese plant both in Delevan and Arcade. For more than 35 years he drove truck for various trucking companies including Clean Brite in Rochester and C.I.D. Refuse in Chaffee. In 2008, he retired from Jaylor Trucking in Belfast where he drove his Kenworth "Gentleman Jim" over the road, coast to coast for 14 years.
Jim enjoyed stock car racing. In the 1960’s and 1970’s he raced at Holland Raceway on the old dirt track and he also drag raced at Lancaster Speedway. Jim was easy going, loved to joke around and had an infectious laugh. He loved spending time with family. He loved remote control airplanes, WWII planes, and airshows, particularly the annual S.T.A.R.S. remote control air show in Olean. He enjoyed Nascar, old time country music, the Allegany County Fair, and playing horseshoes.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother-in-law, Arthur Tyler III.
He is survived by his love and fiancée, Darlene Cooper; 4 sons, James (Jamie) Spencer of Florida, Lance Relyea of South Carolina, Roger Spencer of Florida, Jimmie Relyea of Rochester; 3 step children, Gail (Rick) Babbitt of Wellsville, Bradley Bliven of Friendship, Nikki (Josh) Hint of Friendship; his “little sister”, Debbie (Rick) Dixon of Delevan; 24 grandchildren, Shane, Cynthia, Danielle, Nikolas, Renata, Lance, Jr., John, Brittney, Ashley, Krista, Kyle, Alyssa, Kaila, Gabrielle, Megan, Zander, Zakkery, Andrea, Karlie, Huntar, Camron, Conner, Alivia and Jenna; 17 great-grandchildren, Shandi, Gage, Kyleia, Vivian, Dominik, Dylan, Layla, Susan, Leo, Mia, Iris, Michael, Hope, Serenity, Mary Jane, Kyran and Owen; several nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers in law, cousins, many close friends and his beloved border collie Dazie who rode everywhere with him.
The family will be present 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 101 West Ave. Angelica, where funeral services will be held at 7 p.m .on Thursday immediately following the last visitation. On Friday, May 19 at 11a.m. burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery in Scio, NY.
Friends may make memorial contributions to: The National Warplane Museum 3489 Big Tree Ln, Geneseo, NY 14454
To send a remembrance, please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com.
