James Deets, 88, of Utica, PA, died, Thursday, January 25, 2018, at Sugar Creek Station in Franklin, PA.

He was born July 26, 1929, in Canal township to the parents of Samuel Edgar and Vera Marie Gheres Deets.

After receiving his GED from Franklin High School, he married Bette Yvonne Riddle on December 3, 1954.

James was employed by Firestone, Westinghouse, New York Central Railroad, and Joy Manufacturing where he worked for 34 years until he retired. He was affiliated with the Canal Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Church and served in the United States Navy for four years. His hobbies included attending auctions, reading, and hunting deer. James loved to sit and watch wildlife from his back porch while feeding popcorn to the rabbits and cardinals. His favorite saying was, “Since I was born in 1929, people thought I started the Great Depression.” He also was a very private person and had a dry sense of humor.

Survivors including his wife and his four children: Larry Deets and Peg of Franklin, Cathy Deets and Frank Cotterman of Titusville, Robyn Evans and her husband Phil of Elwell, Michigan and Robert Deets and his wife Laurie from parts unknown. He is also survived by two brothers: Samuel Deets and his wife Carolyn of Cochranton, and Donald Deets and his wife Velma of Cochranton, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren and his brother in law, Philip Bell and wife Charlotte, of Utica.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Eileen Bell, and three brothers: Richard, William, and Robert Deets.

Friends and family may call at Dickson Family Funeral Home in Cochranton, PA, on Sunday, January 28, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Canal Wesleyan Methodist Church, with Rev Domenick Pietro and Rev. William Cornell and Douglas Strawn officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.