- Date Of Death: January 9, 2017
- State: Indiana
James S. “Jimmy” Havens, 72, of Elkhart, Earth lost one of the kindest and most loving men Monday, Jan. 9, when James S. Havens went to heaven. James was born in Ezel, Ky., to Clayton and Daisy (Murphy) Havens on July 19, 1944.
He graduated from Columbia City Joint High School, Columbia City, in May of 1962. He joined the Navy on June 20, 1962 and served on the USS Diachenko APD 123 during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged Nov. 17, 1966. Jim married Nancy K. Mullett on May 17, 1968.
In December 1966, he went to work for Heilman Heating & Air Conditioning. In May of 1986, Jim and Nancy bought the company. Jim was a well-known fast-pitch softball player. He played on Federal Press, It’s the Pits, ASA, and a few other teams. He also coached little league baseball at FOP Little League and was assistant baseball coach at Elkhart Central High School from 1991 to 1993.
Jim never said “No” to anyone who asked for his help. Jim loved taking his dog, Tucker, for walks and talking to anyone else out at the same time, driving his 1968 Chevy Nova, planting flowers in the spring, decorating the outside of the home for Christmas, being outside, camping with family and friends, teasing all his nieces and nephews and anyone else.
The New York Yankees were his favorite team from a very young age, as well as the Kentucky Wildcats and NASCAR. Another favorite of Jim’s was lunch with the gang at Bristol Street Café and coffee at Sunrise every morning.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy and son, Christopher J. Havens; two brothers, Joe (Shirley) Havens of Millersburg and Michael Havens of Milford; two sisters, Elizabeth Havens of LaGrange and Ruth (Phil) Hamilton of Elkhart; mother and father-in-law, Jack abd Gloria Mullett of Columbia City; sister and brother-in-law Susie (Larry) Corbin of Avilla, sister and brother-in-law Jeannie (Jim) Newton of Carrabelle, Fla., sister and brother-in-law, Susie (George) Riecke of Columbia City.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Clayton Havens Jr., Don Havens and Ralph Havens and three brothers-in-law, Dan Mullett, Phil Ebey and John Alwine.
