James M. "Jim" Sheffer died on March 15, 2017 in Pensacola, FL. Jim was born in St. Paul, MN, on June 11, 1929 as the first son of three children to Byron M. Sheffer and Grace B. Sheffer. He graduated from Cretin High School in 1947 as First Lieutenant with honors. He was the beloved husband of Catherine Anne "Cathy" Sheffer and the father of four sons. Jim served in the U.S. Navy and retired in 1970 as a senior Instructor at the Chief Petty Officers Academy at NAS Pensacola.

After retirement from the Navy he served as Executive Director of the Fiesta of Five Flags from 1969 to 1971. In 1971 he was hired as the Assistant Manager of the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Upon the retirement of the current manager, John G. "Jack" Cowley, in 1976, he was promoted to the position of General Manager of the Authority where he served until his retirement in 1993.

Jim wove himself into the fabric of the community through his sense of duty and service. He became a vital asset to Escambia County, the city of Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and all of Northwest Florida. Jim was an active and contributing member to a variety of local and national civic organizations. He was Past President of the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America and received the Silver Beaver for distinguished service in 1971, Past President of the Pensacola council of the Navy League, Past President of the Krewe of Lafitte and served as Jean Lafitte XLV, Treasurer of the Pensacola Lions Club where he was recognized as Lion of the Year in 1975, member of the BPOE Warrington Elks Lodge No. 2108, commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1973, member of The Knights of Columbus, member of the Panhandle Senior Travel Club, member of the Pensacola Civitan Club where he was recognized as citizen of the year in 1979, and a lifetime member of McGuire's Flat Earth Society and Irish Politicians Club.

Jim was preceded by the love of his life, Catherine Anne Sheffer; his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Byron Sheffer; his two sons, Timothy and David Sheffer; his sister, Judith De La Sierra; and his granddaughter, Devon Sheffer.

He is survived by his brother, Eugene & wife Marie; his sons, Michael & wife Kristina, and William & wife Kimberly; and his five grandchildren: Graham & Genevieve, Tara, and Savannah & Tyler James Sheffer and a great-granddaughter, Peighton Deitz.

Jim was a lifelong Roman Catholic and attended the Little Flower Catholic Church in Pensacola since 1965 and served as one of the first extraordinary ministers in the Dioceses of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida.

He listed in his Cretin High School yearbook that his hobby was having fun and his ambition was to own a summer resort, and we can all safely say, in his own way, he was successful in both.

Visitation will be held 5-7pm Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with a rosary to be prayed at 5:00pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30am Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Little Flower Catholic Church with Fr. John Licari and Fr. Matt Worthen concelebrating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America.