James Griswold Mays

James G. Mays passed away on October 12, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

James was born on May 8, 1940, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Emlen and Anna Marie Mays. He was raised in Howe, Idaho, on his family’s ranch, where the values of hard work, responsibility, and caring for family became a part of who he was from an early age.

James attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, where he earned his degree in mechanical engineering.

After college, James returned to Howe and continued the life that had shaped him from childhood. In 1965, he married Sherry King of Birch Creek, Idaho, in Reno, Nevada. Together, they welcomed three daughters, Brenda, Mavanee, and Jami. Their marriage later ended in divorce.

James eventually took over Mays Land and Livestock, continuing a ranching legacy that had been passed down through four generations of the Mays family. In addition to raising sheep and other livestock, James grew crops including barley, wheat and other grains, alfalfa, and hay, which were sold and shipped to other areas. Ranching was far more than a livelihood to James; it was a way of life and a connection to his family, his community, and the land he had known since childhood.

His involvement in agriculture reached far beyond his own ranch. James served as president of the Wool Growers Association, representing producers across the United States. He also served as president of the Western Range Association, served on a board for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and at one time served on the school board. Over the years, he received numerous awards recognizing his leadership, dedication, accomplishments, and contributions to the sheep and wool industry.

James also worked as an over-the-road truck driver, hauling sheep through many states. It was work he truly enjoyed and another way he remained connected to the livestock industry that had played such an important role throughout his life.

Outside of work, James loved to fly and enjoyed piloting his own airplane. He was also an avid hunter and treasured the time he spent outdoors.

James married Donna in 1986. The ranch remained a central part of his life for many years, until Mays Land and Livestock was eventually sold after four generations in the family. After spending approximately 75 years connected to life in Howe and on the ranch, James and Donna moved to Rigby, Idaho, and later made their home in Ammon, Idaho.

For nearly the last 20 years of his life, James faced a long and courageous battle with cancer. He overcame prostate cancer and later liver cancer, continuing to live his life with determination through each challenge. In his final chapter, James faced another aggressive cancer that ultimately took his life. Though the exact type was never fully determined, his strength and perseverance throughout those years were a testament to the way he lived his life.

As James left this life, his family found comfort in imagining the reunion waiting for him on the other side. He was greeted by his wife, Donna, who passed away on October 2, 2026; his parents, Emlen and Anna Marie Mays; his sister, Anne Thatcher; and Karl, a beloved family member with whom James shared a particularly close bond.

Perhaps one of the sweetest reunions was with his mother, Anna Marie, who passed away in 1978. After nearly five decades apart, we find peace in knowing that mother and son are together once again.

James is survived by his three daughters, Brenda Widdison of Utah, Mavanee Espinoza of Utah, and Jami Christopherson of Utah; his stepdaughters, Jeannete of California and Brenda of Idaho; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many other family members and loved ones who were an important part of his life.

To his daughters, James was lovingly known as “The Boss,” “Superman,” and “My Rock” — names that reflected the strength, determination, steadiness, and larger-than-life presence they saw in their dad. James also had a way of making each of his girls feel special, often calling each of them his “favorite,” a family joke and term of endearment that became part of who he was as their dad. No matter how many challenges life placed in front of him, he continued to fight, stand strong, and keep moving forward.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many doctors and nurses at EIRMC in Idaho Falls for the care and compassion they provided to our dad throughout his illness. We would also like to thank the caregivers at Promontory Point Rehabilitation Center for the kindness, support, and care they showed him.

James will be cremated. There will be an open house Celebration of Life for James on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Howe Community Center, 1525 E. Hwy 93 / 1531 Hwy 33, Howe, Idaho 83244. Family and friends are welcome to come at any time during those hours to visit, remember James, and celebrate his life.

James will be remembered for his hard work, determination, love of family, and the life he built through decades of ranching, farming, trucking, flying, hunting, community service, and caring for those around him. His legacy will live on through the family he loved, the agricultural community he devoted so much of his life to, and the generations that follow him.