HEREFORD James Jim Joseph Silva, 56, died Dec. 1, at his Hereford home. A memorial service was held Dec. 14 at the Unity Hall in Unity.

Mr. Silva was born Feb. 21, 1957, in Petaluma, Calif., to Joseph and Carrie (Paoli) Silva. He graduated from Petaluma High School in 1975.

On Sept. 15, 1979, he married Linda Groble at Penngrove Community Church in Penngrove, Calif.

He worked as a truck driver, delivering raw milk to processing plants, and then for L & L Trucking, hauling gravel and building materials.

In 1978, he became the owner/operator of a cattle ranch in Petaluma.

In 2001, he moved to Hereford, where he found his dream house and ranch. In 2003, he began working for the Oregon Department of Transportation, first as a seasonal snowplow driver, then full-time as a maintenance contractor. He was based out of the Austin Junction area with ODOT, where he worked until this year.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, camping, and restoring old equipment, trucks and tractors. His favorite thing to do was make people laugh.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Linda; brother Mike (Roberta) Silva of Malin; sister, June (Bob) Ghiggioli of Petaluma; brother-in-law Steve (Lisa) Groble of Fort Collins, Colo.; mother-in-law, Carol, and brother-in-law, David, both of Copperopolis, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Carrie Silva; stepfather, Melvin Ilg; and father-in-law, Richard C. Groble Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Lukes Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI) through Grays West & Company, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.