James Heuett

James “Jim” Michael Heuett, born August 4, 1953, in Spokane, Washington, passed away on January 20, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. In the early 1960s his family moved to southern California, where he developed a lifelong love for horses, fishing, hunting and the outdoors.

He was raised in a Presbyterian family attending Westminster First Presbyterian Church and attending Bolsa Grande High School in Westminster. He was extremely bright, talented and skilled in playing tenor and alto saxophones in the Matador Marching Band. He loved working with his hands and would rather be in a shop class than an academic classroom. He was an avid reader of books, especially mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allen Poe, and Zane Grey. Jim was a member of the Boy Scouts of America along with his brother and father they camped, hiked, and honed their marksmanship skills. These interests and skills would shape his future along with a love for the west and cowboy life.

Jim went to school to be a farrier and trained with a saddler to learn the saddle making art/craft. He acquired the skill to work leather from his father, and they worked on saddles together. His passion and life’s work in both southern and northern California was with livestock, especially horses all breed, shapes, sizes and colors. Jim used the family livestock brand. He competed in rodeos and won a series of buckles for his skill. Jim worked with and drove horse drawn wagons and buggies. He was respected for his knowledge, and his dedication to the saddlers and farrier’s craft.

Jim had a wry sense of humor and a mischievous spirit. He was a detailed, and engaging storyteller. He deeply respected nature, loved the outdoors, liked to garden, lived the life of true cowboy, and will be missed by those who loved and knew him.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Lou (Bill Balak) Heuett, along with his Heuett, LaPlante, Granlund, Torgerson, Johnson and Bennett cousins in the northwest. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Jacob Heuett and Myrna Evelyn Murray Heuett; his brother, Gary Walter Heuett; and his son, James Michael Heuett, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name may be made to CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) Research Foundation (Info@cmtrf.org), Wild Horse Conservation (https://amereicanwildhorse.org), Orphan Acres Viola, Idaho (orphanacres@hotmail.com), Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue (www.gentlegiantsdrafthorserescue.org) or support a Trade School in your community with a donation or a gift of your time or skill.