James K. Bryant, age 60, husband of Diane Bryant, died peaceably surrounded by family on July 3rd, 2009. Born in Kingston, PA, he was the son of the late John G. Bryant and Eleanor Ann Fahey Bryant. He spent much of his life in the Chester County area, living in Berwyn, PA with his first wife Linda Beers Bryant and later in Downingtown, PA.

James was a graduate of Radnor High School, attended John Carroll University and studied architecture at Drexel University. He served in the Navy in the Naval Air squadron The Mad Foxes as a radio operator for P3 Orions, earning an E3 status.

He was a Lifting Specialist and eventually President of Overhead Materials Handing, Inc. of Ardmore, PA for much of his life, designing new and inventive industrial equipment in regards to lifting.

At the same time, he loved photography and served as the Chief Photographer of Foto Facets, specializing in wedding and portraiture photography. Ultimately, this business grew out of one of his many creative ideas, kaleidoscopic photography.

Quite a Renaissance man, James had a myriad of interests.

He was an accomplished guitar player who started playing at 14 years of age and never stopped, from his military band The Specters, to teaching local youth how to play, including his son Steve who went on to have a musical career of his own. James could often be seen on his porch overlooking Marsh Creek State Park playing guitar, in earlier years making up silly songs to entertain his children.

James gave uncountable hours of time to both the Boy Scouts of America and the YMCA's Indian Princesses as his children and their peers grew into young adults. Enthusiastic about their programs he was often leading camping trips, fundraisers, and service projects.

At one time he was the President of the Gold Prospectors Association of America (Philadelphia chapter) and his passion for gold took him down to the mountains of North Carolina and across the country to the wilds of Alaska, if not his own back yard in St. Peter's Village, PA where he taught others to gold pan.

A history buff, James loved to read about ancient civilizations and collect artifacts that he hunted down in person or on Ebay. A lover of precious stones, he was always searching for the perfect jewels for his wife and family.

James is survived by his sister Patricia Bryant Bowers of Wayne, PA and brother Andrew Bryant of Laguna Niguel, CA, and by his four children: Elizabeth Bryant of Jacksonville, FL, Tom Laret of Los Angeles, CA, Steve Laret and his fiance Lauren Talley of Phoenixville, PA, and Christina Bryant of Long Island City, NY.

James will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by all who crossed path with this kind and quick-witted man.

Memorial Donations may be made to the following organizations:

The Carcinoid Cancer Foundation
333 Mamaroneck Ave #492
White Plains, NY 10605
888-722-3132
www.carcinoid.org

The Chester County SPCA
1212 Pheonixville Pike
West Chester, PA 19380
610-692-6113
www.ccspca.org