Northern Colorado Remembers James Seale Finn

James Seale Finn March 3, 1945 – August 3, 2018

Jim was born March 3, 1945 in Houston, Texas to Theophilus Bruno Finn and Elizabeth Edwards Finn. He grew up and went to school in Houston and after graduation, he joined the United States Air Force in July 1962. He spent the majority of his enlistment at Davis Monthan AFB outside of Tucson, Arizona and was honorably discharged in July 1966.

It was during his time in the USAF as an aircraft mechanic that he discovered his love of flying and airplanes. After that, all things aeronautical became the theme of his career choices throughout his lifetime. After leaving the Air Force, Jim attended Northrup School of Technology for a year and then went to work for American Airlines in Los Angeles California.

He left California in 1977 and moved to Utah where he worked for Paro Air and Wilderness Helicopter, Brian Head Enterprises, Color Country Aviation, and Sunrise Air Service. In 1979 he went to Panama with Arial Spotters and then to New Zealand with Star-Kist Tuna working off-shore as a helicopter mechanic on the fishing vessels.

He returned to Kanab Utah in 1980 and started his own company, Finn’s Aero Repair. Jim then was offered a job with Energy Fuels out of Fredonia AZ and was there for 7 years. He also worked for Rocky Mountain Helicopters in Provo, Utah, Lake Powell Air Service in Page, Arizona and Heli-Support in Fort Collins, Colorado.

In 1994 he accepted employment with the FAA working out of Denver, Colorado as Principal Airworthiness Maintenance Inspector. He retired in 2013 and in 2014 moved back to Big Water in Southern Utah. After first moving to Utah in 1977, Jim met Donita Anderson while in Kanab. They were married in 1982 and have shared a full and happy life together.

Jim loved to travel, campout, fish, hunt, ride horses, boat and roam the mountains of Southern Utah. He was always rebuilding and tinkering with anything mechanical and enjoyed building or fixing things for others. Most of all, he enjoyed being with his family and friends and all of his four legged friends.

Jim is survived by his wife Donita Finn, Mother-in-Law Charolette Barnson, son Robert Glenn Anderson, daughter Shantel Anderson, son Corey J. Reed, son Christian James Reed, sisters Sherry Jean Graves and Penny Elise Finn, and 8 grandchildren. In accordance with Jim’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.