James was born in Brownsville, TX on January 8, 1937, a son of the late Esther Arilla (Croutch) and Howard William Grimsley.He was the husband of Virginia Jessie (Cooper) Grimsley, they were married in 1960 and celebrated 60+ years of marriage. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Rocky Ford, CO.
Jim was raised and graduated from Rocky Ford High School. He then enrolled and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving, he graduated Colorado State University in 1961 with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, he then became a Colorado Certified Public Accountant. He then came back to the Arkansas Valley and was a founding partner in the Grimsley - White & Company C.P.A.'s where is expertise was tax and general business consulting including M & A engagements. In 1983, Jim sold his interest in the firm and at that time the company had 3 offices and 22 employees. Then he went back to school and got an MBA in Executive Skills & Decision Making from the University of Denver. From 1983 until 2003 he was the CEO of Total Bank Technology LLC and related companies (it was a software company for community bank data processing and item processing). He kept his CPA License until 2016 and did some limited client consulting.
While he was working, he also served on numerous professional committees including the Colorado Society of CPA’s and served as President; American Institute of CPA’s and served two terms on the Governing Council; he served as Presenter at over 20 conferences nationally and in Canada on CPA Practice Management; he also served on various committees of the Colorado Independent Bankers Association.
Locally, Jim served numerous organizations including being the Manager of the Rocky Ford Chamber of Commerce; President of Rocky Ford Rotary Club (honorary life member); President of the Arkansas Valley Fair Association; Member of Rocky Ford Industrial Development Committee; Member of Governor Love’s “Space in the Sun” industrial development task force; Chairman of Governor Lamm’s “Colorado Dept of Revenue Reorganization Task Force”; Board Member Colorado Boys Ranch and was a Mayor for Rocky Ford.
Lion Jim when he and Virginia moved to the Denver area, he became a member of the Denver Lion's Club and served on their board and as Treasurer of the Denver Lions Foundation until moving to Colorado Springs. Jim was very involved where ever he was and made many friends along the way.
He loved his family and enjoyed all the times they shared together; he will be missed by all who knew him but especially his family. He is survived by: Wife Virginia of the home; Son Sam, husband of Kimberly Grimsley, of La Junta, CO;