- Date Of Death: April 6, 2017
- State: Pennsylvania
James Edward Gross, known to many as Jimmy, Lumpy, Jumbo, Hector the Collector, James E. Pierpont Alloicious Africana Gross III, passed away suddenly Thursday, April 6, 2017 at his home in Spinnerstown, PA. The Quakertown native was born on April 24, 1949 to his late Mother and Father, Evelyn (Buzby) and Earl Gross. His lifetime hobbies of hunting and fishing started as outings with his father and “the band of brothers,” Thomas and John. His high school schedule was filled with the sports of baseball, basketball, and football. He began his college career with a baseball scholarship to Western New Mexico University and later transferred to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. There he graduated with a BS in Parks and Recreation reflecting his continued love for the outdoors. While attending WKU he worked off campus at L&M bookstore, where he met “Big Nat” Love who introduced him to the world of business. He continued to work with Nat as the bookstore transformed into a bike shop and later blossomed into an outdoor equipment store. This mentorship would affect Jim’s future philosophy of business as a mixture of work, play, “barter” that stayed with him to the present. He was drawn back to Quakertown when his sister, Deborah, and brothers began to have families. Family ties always kept him grounded here, but the yearning for travel and adventure, along with his ability to easily create friendships began his “rolling stone” lifestyle. After working a short employment at the Upper Bucks Vocational Technical School, he went on to work for the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation. His “Joy ride Jimmy” tendencies made it hard for him to be trapped in a typical desk job, so he pursued work in landscaping where he found happiness in the outdoors. He worked for Unique Garden Center, Solt Gardens, Tilley’s Nursery, and eventually his own business “Field of Dreams Landscapes” evolved. Any down time from work, his free spirit had him enjoying his outdoor hobbies of canoeing, skiing, hiking, and biking. The latter activity introduced him to his wife, Sue. He saved the “damsel in distress” when her bike broke down at a covered bridge on a bike hike beginning at Nockamixon State Park. His past bike store experience saved the day and their future together began. His sense of adventure and need for something exciting embarked him on a new type of business with his daughter, Megan and wife, Sue. This earned him the title “El Presidente” of Primitive Seasons in Dublin, PA. This April 13th would’ve been their family business’s 10 year anniversary. Although Jim had a love/hate relationship with the store, he cherished every moment he got to work with his daughter and extended family members. His creative way of reviving his collectibles and antiques along with his fun-loving spirit and smile will surely be missed by his customers. The common thread a lot have shared since his passing, was that they always enjoyed coming to the store to see his friendly face and to sit and talk with him. There was seldom a moment Jimmy didn’t have a story to tell and others always chuckled at his silly jingles. He was always eager to lend a helping hand to those he knew or anyone in need. He lived life to the fullest and seized the day. His larger than life personality will leave us all with fond memories of him. Many trips to his land in Upstate New York, Kentucky, “Camp Lumpy” in Bradford County, Montana, Canada, Maine, Georgia and Hawaii will keep his spirit alive in the hearts of those he touched. He only fell short of one state in his 50 state bucket visit list, which was Alaska. To quote Johnny and Baby in his little girl’s favorite movie “I’ve had the time of my life…” He leaves behind his wife, Susan (Hieter) of 36 1/2 years, their daughter, Megan Gross Sauter, husband Andrew of Quakertown; brothers, Thomas Gross of Coopersburg; and John Gross, wife Laurie of Quakertown; sister, Deborah Loew, husband Michael of Quakertown; nieces and nephews Michael Gross, wife Angie, Laurie Brandis, husband Brian, Dana Ropchock, husband Jonah, Derek Gross, fiancé Katie, Jessie Loew, husband Jay, and Jackie Rinyu, husband Carl. Friends and family may call from 5:30-7:30 PM Mon. Apr.
