James Bert was born in Peoria on May 16, 1954 to Clifford and Gloria (Deluhery) Graves. After graduating from Richwoods High School, he followed family tradition as a member of Local 17 Heat and Frost Insulators for 30 years.
Jim married Patricia “Patti” Button on September 11, 1976. Thirty-two years later he still made her laugh. The proud father of Jamie Lynne and Ryan Patrick, Jim’s legacy will live on through his daughter’s demeanor and son’s handsome features.
An active member of the Peoria County Democrats, Jim served as an elected Peoria County Precinct Committeeman. As a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, he founded and organized the Men’s Club smokers and coached soccer at the grade school, long after his children were grown. He served as President and board member of the WKRRA Neighborhood Association for more than a decade.
Living his motto “it’s nice to be nice”, Jim drove patients to treatment through the Road to Recovery volunteer program and was a mentor to many at the Cancer Center for Healthy Living. He spoke as a patient advocate at oncology conferences – inspiring others with his determination, education and practical, no-nonsense advice. Jim was awarded the American Cancer Society’s 2007 Outstanding Health Initiatives Volunteer Award.
In dying, as in living, Jim thought of how he could help others. His last wish was to donate his body to science for medical research.