James was born on August 4, 1939, in Lawrence, Michigan, the son of James C. Empson and Maxine Haney. On February 28, 1959, he married the love of his life, Patricia Carole Bachman.

Jim and Pat raised their family in Hartford, MI before relocating to Leelanau County in 1978. Jim’s primary career was in the fruit farming industry, encompassing every stage from growing saplings to harvesting and selling trees to Grand Traverse and Leelanau county farmers. Although he briefly explored roles in insurance, meat cutting, and beverage delivery, farming was his life’s work. In 1985, he fulfilled a long-held ambition by starting his own orchard, Twin Valley Apples. He later focused solely on tree sales, working for Van Wells Nursery to supply fruit farmers across Northern Michigan.

He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid deer hunter. His proudest moment came in 2002 when he bagged a bear weighing 405 pounds, the largest bear taken in Michigan that year.

Beyond farming and hunting, Jim was a successful snowmobile racer in the 1970s, claiming the MISA state championship in his class during the 1973–74 winter.

Even with his own hobbies and interests 1939 ~ 2025

he still found plenty of time to spend with the family taking many family vacations around the state of Michigan and across the country. These trips included the Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island, across the country to Yellowstone, Maine and all points in between. Jim is survived by his children, Kelly Richards, Kimberly Pelon, and Kevin Empson; his brother John Empson; his grandchildren, Daniel Richards, Richard (Christi) Root, Nicole Root, Adam (Claire) Root, Cory (Kaprina) Root, Katie (Brandon) Smith, and Alec (Lexie) Empson, and Lucas Empson; his great-grandchildren, Lily, Dominic, Evangeline, Emilie, and Genevieve; and his cherished dog, Scooter. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 65 years, Pat, his sister Joan Duncan, and his Son-in-law Pete Pelon.

A memorial will be held on Saturday November 15 from 1:00-4:00 at Kevin’s house, 816 Westminster Road, Traverse City, MI.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you plant a tree, or make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association www.act.alz.org/ donate in Jim’s memory.

Please share condolences and memories with Jim’s family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.