I am Barbara Tooma one of Jim’s first cousins. I remember when I was a teenager he tried to teach me how to play the guitar & lent me one of his to learn on. I wasn’t a very good student & gave it up. He was so patient & kind to me. I regret not pursuing this. I remember how he & Carol would sing & play together. When they lived in Oceanside I would make sure I visited them when I stayed in Carlsbad, the next town, with some college friends who moved there. I would bring them Chinese food or pizza & while we feasted we reminisced about childhood days back East. I always enjoyed these visits & was sad when they moved back to Moreno Valley. When they first moved to California I would drive to  the LA area, pick up our mutual cousin, Grace, & drive us to see my Aunt Vicky & Jim  & Carol. They turned us on to Hadly’s  & we’d make a trip there to get some of their delicious nuts & dates. He will be missed & always remembered with fondness & love.

I am Amy, one of Jimmy’s nieces. Back in October my family went to CA for a visit. It was the first time I’d seen him in 40ish years.  The first thing that struck me was his strong resemblance to my mom (I think maybe it was the famous Cokash eyes).  Then, as we chatted and I  got to know him a little better, I understood why he was so beloved by pretty much everyone who crossed his path.  Not only was he kind, he was upbeat, gentle, shared my love for animals, and told terrible jokes that made us all laugh anyway. 
I wish I had been closer to him, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet him again.
 I hope he is somewhere beautiful, running fast.

About 40 or so years ago, my father, brother, and I went to California to visit Grandma, Aunt Carol, and Uncle Jim. We went to Hadley’s dried fruit and nut store, to Lake Perris, and sometimes just stayed home and enjoyed being together. 

After all these years, I still remember Uncle Jim’s quirky sense of humor and his gentle way of creating silly word games. Here are a few: 
“Do you know what a honeymoon salad is?
    Lettuce alone!”

While playing the keyboard, Uncle Jim would say, “This kills them at the old folks home!”

When Aunt Carol served us a crumb cake for dessert, he said “ Carol, this cake is crummy.”

                — John Cokash

As a child I spent many happy summers at my grandparent’s home where uncle Jim resided.
I have many fond memories of those times. 
I especially loved when uncle Jim, playing guitar or keyboard, and aunt Carol would entertain us with music and song. Uncle Jim also possessed a  witty sense of humor that I truly enjoyed. My recollection of my uncle is that of a gentle and kind person.
The world would be such a better place if there were more people like my uncle Jim.❤️

Jimmy was dear to me, so dear, he was like a father, a spiritual father. He, in his kind gentle manner would help me reason on the scriptures to see Jehovah's thinking on the matter.  He saved my marriage!
He was gentle, kind, tender, and so positive, I never once heard him say something negative.
We have so many memories from a road trip to Arizona for an assembly, to the Del Coronado Hotel, Tijuana, or just down to the beach.
We enjoyed a scrabble game or two, even a friendly game of Chalupa.
I look forward to making new memories under Gods kingdom rule.
Love you Jimmy

Jim (age 12) and Carol (7)  in the backyard in Medford, MA

Jim, Carol and Victoria were gifts from Jehovah to my family. They were exactly what we needed at the time when we needed them to study the Bible with us and learn about Jehovah. They truly reflected Jehovahs qualities and made getting to know him easier. To this day I still mostly wear ankle top dress shoes because of Jim. That’s what I would see him always wearing as I sat across from him during our Bible studies. He wore them because of having had polio. I look forward to seeing and enjoying their company as the best possible version of themselves as Jehovah intended.

I am glad to have been able to spend time with Uncle Jim this past October. He was in wonderful spirits, and every time I spoke with him during that visit, he found ways to make me feel happy and proud. One small example is that when I showed him a picture of my (accidentally over-sized) rental car, he shared his astonishment that I rose to the occasion and managed to navigate such a huge vehicle along the streets and highways of southern California.

It's rare to meet such a curious person who cares so much about others' lives; he was a world-class listener. Because my mother sent him weekly letters, he was up to speed on my life, but I think he enjoyed hearing additional details from me as well. As we chatted, he was enthusiastic about each anecdote and asked lots of questions. His appreciation of life—even the small things—was clear, from the way he marveled at photos of my volunteer work with the New England Aquarium to the enthusiasm with which he polished off a chocolate shake from In-N-Out Burger. 

I will always remember Uncle Jim for his humor, good cheer, and sense of wonder.

Memories of My Brother Jim

   When I was about 7, my mother Vicki, my sister Carol, and I went to Jim's high school to see him perform in a play. Jim's role was that of a bishop who helped the hero--an innocent man who escapes from prison. I wondered what had happened to Jimmy's hair--it was gray! Carol explained to me that it was powdered to make him look old.
   Jim built a makeshift ping pong table in our cellar. It was near a huge, coal burning furnace. I was about 12, and almost every day after school, I would hurry home and challenge Jimmy to a game.
   Jim gave me my first--a Studebaker. He said he wanted a new car. What he really gave me was the ability to come home from college when I was homesick.
   When I was about to get married, I received a beautiful Bulova watch from Jim. He said it hadn't cost much because he had bought it from someone at work. I wore that watch all the time when I was teaching. Sadly, it was stolen in a home invasion of our small apartment. I stopped wearing a watch for decades.
   These are a few memories of my brother Jim, a caring, wise, and loving man.

   Martha (Cokash) Nelson

What a jewel he was, such a warm and loving brother.  There was a kindness about him.  And he had a listening ear when you can just talk with him.  The times that were able to spend with him and his sister Carol were truly special, great fond memories were made.   So happy we had the chance to know him.  We await the time when we can see them again in God's promised New World.

Jimmy was my very best friend. However I felt like he was my brother. Jmmy was always there for my family and me. He trully exemplified Proverbs 17:17 "A true friend shows love at all times, And is brother who is born for times of distress"

Awww such sweet memories of Jimmy. We remember him as a very loving, welcoming brother. We remember good times meeting at their house for our weekly Bible study. We look forward to seeing him, Carol, and Victoria in God’s New World. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. May Jehovah be with you. Love, Bill and Sharon Boyd

OBITUARY

James E Cokash

April 21, 1935 – March 17, 2025

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