James Peace

James Lewis Peace was welcomed home to our Heavenly Father's Kingdom with open arms by his Mother, Father, five siblings and daughter Stacy.

Jim was born in Corbin, Kentucky on November 22nd, 1944 to Dorothy and Clyde Peace. He was the "baby" of the family with seven older brothers and sisters. He moved to Covington when he was eight years old with his Mom, sister Doris, and brother Jerry. He "ran" the streets of Latonia and Covington; making friends for life. After graduating from Holmes High School; he attended the University of Kentucky. He married his high school sweetheart (Debbie) in 1965 and started his family and his first career, a brakeman on the B & O Railroad.  It was during this time that he met Rocky who would become Jim’s best friend for life.  He also owned and maintained rental properties in the Covington, Ky area.  

Jim and Debbie were married until 1978. Jim and his girls, Kim and Stacy, maintained the homeplace in Villa Hills making memories together, and enjoying time with his mom. In 1982 Jim met and fell in love with Candy and they married in 1984. Candy and her daughter Mary, moved into the Villa Hills home.  The commute for Candy was too far so in 1986, Candy drug Jim "kicking and screaming" to live in West Chester, a midway point between their respective jobs. Jim thoroughly enjoyed the home he and Candy designed together in West Chester. He had a garden each year and tended the three acres like it was a park. Their home in Ohio is where they would welcome and raise their daughter, Ruthann. Jim did "swear" that he would someday return to his roots; Kentucky.

No matter how he was addressed, whether it was Jimmy, Jim, Dad, Papaw, or Mr. Peace, he often responded with "talk fast, I'm a busy man" and that he was. His entrepreneurial spirit, incredible work ethic, and the pride he took in a "job done right" guided him through many business adventures he enjoyed with friends and family.

By 1990 Jim started his second career. Jim; along with friends Larry and Bob, founded Tri-County Food Service. The business was successful immediately. Success came with the guys working long hours; cutting pies and washing pots and pans. Jim and Larry later welcomed Randy as a new partner.

After nine years of owning a business he loved (working side by side with close friends) and surviving a battle with melanoma; Jim sold out of Tri-County and started his third career. For the last twenty-four years he has been "everything real estate". That included flipping homes, rehabbing homes and managing his rental portfolio. Additionally, he has been the "chief architect and construction manager" for remodeling projects in the family. He always said that being a master carpenter was his real talent.

Jim had the most charismatic personality. No one could tell a story with more flare and comedic timing than he could. He had a love for cowboys that started at an early age when he would visit his cousins and their horses. He enjoyed country music, cowboy chronicles, poetry, art, and watching western films. Jim always enjoyed spending time outside tending his garden, watching hummingbirds on his back deck, and talking for hours to loved ones on his porch.

Over the course of Jim's final days he told the family that he has had a great life. That for the last 40 years he has had and done anything he wanted. His family always came first. He treasured every moment spent with them, whether it was a holiday, vacation, Sunday dinner, or a five minute visit.

He is survived by his wife; Candy, his children Kimberly, Nathan, Ruthann, Andrew, and Mary, eleven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and his brothers Jerry and Clifford. We love him so much and treasure the years of memories.

Jim is preceded in death by Daughter Stacy Peace, Parents Clyde & Dorothy (Davis) Peace, and siblings Billy Jack Peace, Wallace Peace, Corky Peace, Lois Eagle, and Doris Rider.

Visitation will take place at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6410 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Twp., OH 45044, on Friday, September 15, 2023, from 4pm-8pm. Celebration of Life Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7118 Dutchland Parkway, Liberty Township, OH 45044, Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 12 noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Atrium Medical Center Foundation for The Peace Family Endowment, in support of the Peace Chapel; 1 Medical Center Dr., Middletown, Ohio 45005.