James Arthur Yturri

James Arthur Yturri, known to friends and family as “Art,” passed away peacefully while surrounded by family on November 30, 2017 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. Art was born on February 5, 1933 in Boise, Idaho. Unfortunately, Art’s mother died as a single parent from tuberculosis when Art was only 7 years old. During the following two years, Art and his two brothers were raised by his aunt, Peggy and his maternal grandmother, or “Granny,” as he affectionately called her. Art and his energetic brothers proved to be too much for Granny to handle; therefore, while in the third grade, Art and his brothers were moved to an orphanage named Briscoe Memorial School in Kent, Washington. Art did not have the most pleasant memories of his experience at Briscoe and remembered how he and his brothers ran away from the orphanage on multiple occasions. He recalled that on one occasion, he and his brothers were able to escape Briscoe and navigate the 18 miles to downtown Seattle, but were returned to the orphanage after being found asleep on a bench at the Seattle Greyhound Bus Station. Art graduated from John Rogers High School in Spokane, Washington in 1950. While at John Rogers, he worked full time at a truck tire shop. This job was often the chief means of financial support for his family at that time, which included his aunt and uncle. In fact, Art nearly dropped out of high school during his junior year, as there didn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to work more than 50 hours each week and attend high school. After graduating from high school, Art was drafted into the U.S. Army, and for most of the next two years served in the military police department at Kaufburn, Germany. Art returned to Spokane after completing his military service and became employed in the trucking industry. In 1958, he wed Marion Young and they had three children. They later divorced. The majority of Art’s working years were spent in the trucking industry as an operations manager for multiple trucking transportation companies in the Spokane area. While dispatching trucks throughout the Spokane area in the 1960’s through the 1980’s, Art’s incredible memory would be on display, as he could immediately recall the complete address of any customer receiving a freight delivery on any given day.Art’s colleagues in the freight business considered his expertise at routing each driver through the Spokane area on a daily basis in the most efficient and logical manner to be unsurpassed. After retiring from the trucking industry in the early 1990’s, Art purchased the Hi Neighbor Tavern in Spokane, which he owned and operated for four and a half years. The financial success of this business venture allowed him to purchase a home in Thousand Palms, California, which enabled him to do what hewas most passionate about more frequently – playing golf with his buddies. Art played Cribbage in an expert manner and at one point was able to maintain a bowling average in the 190’s. He loved sports, especially when it involved watching the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks on TV. Art also adored Elvis Presley. Art resided in Great Falls for the last two and a half years of his life. He is survived by his former wife, Marion Yturri, of Spokane, WA; brother John Yturri of Bullhead, NV; son Jim (Cari) Yturri of Great Falls; daughters Rita Yturri-Smith and Michelle (Kelly) Thames both of Spokane, WA; and eight grandchildren. Art was preceded in death by his father, George Yturri; mother Virginia Lintecum; and his brother Mike Yturri. A memorial service will take place later this month in Spokane, Washington. Memorial contributions may be made in Art’s name to Peace Hospice, 1101 11th St S, Great Falls, MT59405 or to The First Tee at https://thefirsttee.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate/. Condolences may be posted online at SchniderFuneralHome.com.