James Robinson Cratty

James Robinson Cratty
October 5, 1935 November 1, 2010

Born in Hollywood, California, died at home in Prescott Valley, Arizona

Jim was a life-long teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Simi Valley Unified School District for a total of 40 years. His passion was baseball and played senior softball up until 2003. He was a baseball coach/teacher at Simi Valley High School for 13 years of which he always said was the happiest days of my life. Jim retired in 2004 from Portola Middle School in Tarzana, California as Dean of Students, and he and his wife Leslie moved to Prescott Valley. Even during his retirement from teaching, he continued to work as a teacher's aide at Mile High Middle School in Prescott until May 2009. His greatest accomplishment he said on many occasions was the impact he had on his students over the years. He leaves behind his wife of 15 years Leslie, his son Michael (Monique), his three grandchildren Nic, Cassi and Carli of Los Alamitos, CA, his daughter Lisa Gipson and her two children, Haylee and Logan of Colorado Springs, CO and his sister Patricia Taylor (Jack) of Calabasas, CA. memorial service will be held for Jim 10:30 Saturday, November 13, 2010 at Vineyard Christian Church on Poquito Valley Road in Prescott Valley. Rest in peace, you gentle soul. Score a home run with the big leagues up in heaven. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association of Arizona.