James Brigham

SUTTON - James Burnap Brigham, Sr. died December 7, 2020 after a short illness.  He was 88 years old.

He leaves his wife, Nancy (Gravelin) Brigham; two sons, James Jr., Keir and his wife Gina, two daughters, Marcia Brigham Bull and Jennifer and her husband John Prevatt.  Nine grandchildren, Dr. Ashley Brigham-Cannata and husband Richard, Nicholas Brigham and Scout, Katelyn and Matthew Brigham, Timothy, Rebecca and Kayleigh Bull, and Jack and Lukah Prevatt, and two great grandchildren, Olivia and Jaelon Cannata.

Jim also leaves a sister, Joan Hirsch of Pensacola, Florida and sister-in-law Carolyn Brigham and many nieces and nephews.  Jim is predeceased by his parents John D. Brigham, Sr. and Grace (MacLaren) Brigham, brothers J. Dexter, Donald and Robert.

Jim was born November 8, 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression era.  He was raised on a 120-acre dairy, fruit and produce farm on Leland Hill Road in Sutton before the Homestead was destroyed by the June 9, 1953 tornado.

He was educated in the Sutton Public Schools and earned his Electronic Engineering degree from Worcester Junior College.

Jim was a Military Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the U.S. Navy.  His tour of duty included a seven month good will mission aboard aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway CVA41.

His youth years included membership in Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts and De Molay; and he later became a 32nd degree Masonic Master Mason, member of Olive Branch Lodge and Scottish Rite.

He was a 30 year member of the Sutton Volunteer Firefighting Department, advancing from member, to Lieutenant, to Captain, to Deputy Chief.  Jim was a configuration manager at Raytheon from 1959-1992.

He was an active lifelong member of Sutton First Congregational Church, serving over 20 years as Senior Deacon, and several years on the finance committee.  He loved being out in the “back 40”, cutting wood with his beloved “Abbie dog”, to keep his weekly cribbage game players warm.

Jim’s family will remember and celebrate his life privately.