James Herman Elliott

James Herman (Jim) Elliott left the Ball Field August 4, 2010 and was met at home plate by his umpire-in-chief The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with open arms and listening for that famous call of Strike-I. He was well known in softball for 48 years. The first 35 years in Ohio where he was one of the organizers of the Northeast Umpires Association. He umpired at all levels of ball from Little League to the majors. In his younger days he was also a referee in basketball, football, wrestling as well as umpiring baseball and softball. He umpired many national tournaments. He was a employed with General Motors in Cleveland, Ohio for 32 years. He was a member of Cedar Springs Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Robert T. and Nannie Elliott; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Helen and Kenneth Davis of Perry, Ohio; brother, R.L. (Bull) Elliott of Cleveland, TN; wife, Claudine Sandidge Elliott, son, Richard (Swaps) Elliott and daughter, Vanessa Darlene Elliott all of East Lake, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Ernestine (Cookie) Elliott of Cleveland; sister, Laura May Trewhitt of Cleveland; brothers and sisters-in-law: Samuel Julian and June Elliott of Mentor, Ohio, Paul and Judy Elliott of Hartsgrove, Ohio; son, Donald Reggie Elliott of Cleveland, TN; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Gary Cloonan of Chesterland, Ohio; sister-in-law, Barbara Elliott of Cleveland, TN; eight grandchildren, Reggie Elliott of Tellico Plains, TN, Chet Walters of Cleveland, TN, Angela and Johnny Kaylor of Cleveland, TN, Jessica and Vanessa (twins) Elliott of Willoughby, Ohio; Eric Walters of Cleveland, TN, Adam Walters and Danielle Walters both of Chesterland, Ohio; four great-grandchildren: Satina Cheyenne Kaylor, Steven James Elliott, Kyleigh Elliott, Elias Walters; step children: Tammy and LaBron Swinney of Dalton, GA, Terry and Melissa Duckworth of Dalton, GA; six step-grandchildren: Alicia and Jason Walston, Haley Brewer, Dena and Dana Swinney, Holly Patton, Heather Duckworth; three step great-grandchildren: Abbie Putnam, Wendell Patton, III and Brent Walston; very special friends, Ruth Fowler, Missy and Tommy Bandy. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 7, 2010 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Leroy Elliott officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Springs Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony. Chet Walters, Eric Walters, Adam Walters, Sam Trewhitt, Bobby Elliott and Steven Elliott will serve as pallbearers. His family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Friday, August 6, 2010 and also from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, August 7, 2010 at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Elliott family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.