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Obituary of James H. Search
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James Harry Search, age 74, passed away on September 25, 2023 at home with his family by his side.
Jim was born at the Allentown hospital, Allentown, New Jersey to the late Dorothy (nee Goff) and
James Harley Search on May 24, 1949. Jim graduated from Allentown High School in 1967.
Jim was a dairy farmer at heart, loved and knew his cows and farmed most of his life.
He worked with his family on their family farm, Big Way Farm; he then purchased the farm with his
brother and partner, Bill Search. Jimmy then went on to operate his own business as an independent
contractor for the State of New Jersey. Next, he went to work at the State of New Jersey Department
of Corrections Wagner Farm where his knowledge and expertise of both dairy animals and crops were
appreciated by his coworkers. He retired in December of 2019 after 20 plus years.
At home, Jimmy and Leslie had a Christmas Tree Farm, and then started a goat dairy (Lahaway Creek
Little Way Farm) where they were the only operation to sell pasteurized goat milk in New Jersey. They
also did agricultural tours while being ever present in their boys’ lives.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, brother, Richard and brother-in-law, Donald Jackson. He is
survived by his wife, Leslie Robin; son, Michael (Lorie); son, James (Amy); son, Dean (Allie); son, Luke
(Emelie), and grandchildren: Katie, Emily, Jackson, and Christian.
Jim is survived by siblings, Bill (JoAnn) Search, Molly Lou Jackson, and Darlene (Richie) Young, as well
as sister-in-law Debbie (Kupiec) Search. Jim was adored by his nieces and nephews (and
their children), Scott and Joely Jackson (Kyle and Brennan), Brett and Tina Search (Bryce, Delainey,
and Brooke), Amy and Bob Forshee, Jason Search (Matt Mayfield); Melissa and Leigh Powell (Grant,
Kennedy, Reagan, and Lincoln), Danielle and Chris Curnow, Shannon and Jeremy Johnson (Patrick),
Kelle and Kyle Rhodes (Brynn, Parker and Maggie), and Jennifer Search.
Jim and his wife, Leslie made homes and raised their boys at farms in New Egypt, Cream Ridge, and
lastly in their retirement, North, Virginia on the North River where they worked passionately to create
a vacation haven for visitors. Always a team, they hosted many parties and picnics for family and friends.
Jimmy not only made forever friends in New Jersey, but even as a “come here” was easily welcomed and
cherished by many new neighbors and friends in Mathews County and across the river in Gloucester.
Jim’s passion was not only projects on his home, but watching his boys participate in sports including
football, wrestling, soccer, basketball, baseball, and racing and his granddaughters during their high
school softball, track, tennis, and bowling seasons. Jim also coached basketball and was amazing at it!
He loved quiet mornings and evenings sitting in the woods during hunting season and fishing off his
dock. He treasured working on his property as well as lending a helping hand to others in the
community with his tractor and favorite grapple attachment. Sunday morning tradition of going to the
New Egypt flea market with Sky, was continued here in Virginia at the Gloucester Flea Market.
May his spirt and personality live on through his sons and their children and may he continue to watch
over Leslie and their beloved dogs, Sky and Polly Sue.
Funeral services for Jim will be held on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the New Egypt United
Methodist Church – Atkinson Hall, 9 Fort Avenue, New Egypt, NJ 08533 with burial to follow in Jacobstown
Cemetery on Schoolhouse Road in Jacobstown. Calling hours will be on Thursday, September 28 from
5:00 to 8:00 PM and again on Friday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Atkinson Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jim’s memory can be made to the Tunnel to Towers
Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 or to the Allentown FFA, c/o Allentown High
School, 27 High Street, Allentown, NJ 08501.
Funeral arrangement for Jim are under the direction of the Tilghman Funeral Home in New Egypt, NJ
(www.tilghmanfh.com).