James Stephen Stutsman
Aug. 3, 1964-Dec. 12, 2015
Eureka, California
Submitted by LIZA ENRIQUEZ

It is with great sadness of the sudden passing our beloved James Stephen Stutsman on December 12, 2015 at a young age of 51, born at Mercy Hospital in San Mateo, CA on August 3, 1964. He was also known as Jim or Jimmy through his family and friends. He was a former “May Day” King during his elementary years where he resided in Woodside, CA until he was 18 years old; attended nursery and later on to high school from Woodside High School. He took courses at College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University to study music. After college, he spent his adult years in Eureka playing music and although he started in high school his tenure in the musical industry made him one of the VERY BEST Bass Player and Vocalist in Humboldt County through parts of Oregon. He was loved by everyone not just because of his music but also with his smile, kind and giving personality; and always ready to give someone a helping hand when needed. He was predeceased by his older brother Wayne at a very early age, followed by his sister Lara Van Dongen in 2012, and then his parents Connie and Dr. Edward Barthold in the early 2014. James is survived by his sisters Christine Ryland, Leslie Stepp, and Holly Sichel, his brothers Gordon Ringold and Jeff Ringold, nieces, nephews, grandniece (Elin Rose) whom he was looking forward to meet someday, his "Big Brother" Marvin Holtzberg, and his fiancée Liza Enriquez. He also has many friends who loved him just as equal and when he is away from his immediate family his long list of friends in his hometown of Eureka primarily Bruce Briscoe, Darrla Paquin, Don Wilson, and Shannon Warner and to James, they were his family too. With his love and compassion we will miss him dearly as our hearts heal for the loss of an amazing person we loved.