Mr. George Edward “Ed” “Eddie” James, age 81, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor to all, sadly left our world on Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 after a life richly lived in service and kindness. Known for devotion to his family, contributions to his community and love for tennis, cycling, swimming, yoga and hiking, Ed was a beacon of light and hope in the way he chose to live his life and how he touched every person he met.
Ed was born on Wednesday, November 24th, 1943 in Madison, Indiana. As a child he grew up on the farm in York Township of Florence, Indiana where he first attended a one-room schoolhouse/church and then moved to Vevay, Indiana where he was enrolled in Vevay Elementary School and Vevay High School to graduate in 1961. In his own words, Ed remembers trying to find himself one night driving through Lamb, Indiana and listening to “Moon River” by Frank Sinatra. Ed decided that fateful night to join the Navy out of high school and proudly served his country during the Vietnam era from 1961-1964 where he was an electrician on the USS Muliphen.
From that experience, Ed was the first of his family to attend and graduate from college which was a big deal to him and his family. He attended Western Kentucky University where he transferred to Eastern Kentucky University to graduate in 1968. He then enrolled at the University of Kentucky College of Law to complete his law degree in 1971. Ed was proud of his work and the name he created for himself. He was sworn into the Indiana Supreme Court on September 22nd, 1971 where he received his license to practice law. He took his mom, Dorothy Moore James to the luncheon which was a memorable moment for the both of them. He joined the practice of Chester Callus in Vevay, Indiana. In 1972, he received his Kentucky License to practice law and Ed then moved to Frankfort, Kentucky and became the Assistant Attorney General under Ed Hancock Attorney General of Kentucky from 1972 until 1975. Ed then moved back home to Vevay, Indiana to serve as the Switzerland and Ohio County Indiana Superior Court Judge from 1976 until 1981.
According to Ed, his proudest accomplishment was being a devoted husband and father and grandfather. In 1977, he married the love of his life, Lisa Moreillon James, under two oak trees on the Moreillon farm. Ed and Lisa’s family was complete after their two beloved daughters were born, Larisa in 1978 and Laurie Lea in 1979.
In 1981, Ed and his beloved family moved to Hazard, Kentucky to practice law in the law firm of Cooper, Gullet, Combs, Holiday and James until 1987. He then moved his family to Carrollton, Kentucky to join the law practice of Berry & Floyd of Carrollton and New Castle, Kentucky until 1994. From 1994 – 1998, Ed joined the Crawford-Baxter law firm where he formed a partnership and it soon became Crawford, Baxter and James. Ed served as Assistant County Attorney under Jim Crawford and Attorney for the City of Carrollton Utilities in 1992 and proudly served in those positions for several years. In 1998, Ed established his own private practice the James Law Office on Highland Avenue in Carrollton, Kentucky and had a successful practice until 2004 where he partnered with Joe Wells to establish the James & Wells Law Office in Carrollton, Kentucky. That partnership expanded into another branch in LaGrange, Kentucky and continues to this day. Ed also served as the attorney for the Public Energy Authority of Kentucky (PEAK) from 1998 until his death.
Ed had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest. He loved music and dancing and celebrating with family and friends. He was often found singing loudly at the top of his lungs songs like “Rocky Top” and “Piano Man” by John Denver and Billy Joel, or “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma” by David Frisell and Shelly West and of course “Remember When” by Alan Jackson. He was a maniac on the tennis and racquetball courts participating as an avid competitor in the Kentucky Bluegrass State Games and continued playing well into his late 70’s. Ed was also a voracious cyclist, swimmer and a yogi for the majority of his 81 years. He had a love of poetry and the written language where he shared that love with his daughters. He could be found reciting poems by Wendell Berry, Rudyard Kipling and Mother Theresa. He had a heart for service and his animals, especially his precious and devoted dog, Ezzie. His life on the farm included dogs and sheep and horses but could also be compared to an episode of Green Acres where he would bush hog at night or somehow get the tractor stuck. Ed always loved farm life but his real love affair was with the ocean. His time spent traveling the world on ships in the Navy ignited that love and then continued throughout his life where he would take his girls on vacations, and then swear he was never driving all night to Florida again. Eventually Ed and Lisa moved to Florida to spend their days playing tennis, frolicking on the beach and dancing at the club on Friday nights. Later in life, his love turned to spending time with his grandchildren: Leif, Lyric and Lyra McKinney, and Julian, Adrian and Lakian Miles. He was their biggest cheerleader, critic and coach on and off the basketball court and on the court of life. His strength of character has spilled over into each of them as his precious grandchildren. In his own words, Ed wanted to be remembered as a loving father, a good friend, a loving grandfather and as a person that traveled to the beat of a different drum.
Ed blessed us with 81 wonderful years, filled with, according to Jimmy Buffet, a life full of magic and full of tragic but a life well lived anyway. Bubbles up! We know you will Rock and Roll and Hoochie Coo up in heaven while we take care of things down here.
Ed James is survived by his loving wife, Lisa James, and his devoted daughters, Larisa James of Carrollton, KY and Laurie Lea James Miles and her husband, Doug of Crestwood, KY. He was a proud grandfather to, Leif McKinney, Lyric McKinney, and Lyra McKinney of Carrollton, KY; and Julian Miles, Adrian Miles, and Lakian Miles of Crestwood, KY. He is also survived by his sister, Joann Carrigan of Columbus, MS.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Chester “Chet” James and Dorothy (Moore) James; and his brother, Paul “Freddie” James.
A Celebration of Life service will be held from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m., Sunday, July 20th, 2025 at the Richwood on the River, 1233 Highway 36, Milton, Kentucky 40045.
The Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, July 20th, 2025 at Richwood on the River, 1233 Highway 36, Milton, Kentucky 40045.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has requested memorial donations to the Carroll County Lady Panthers Basketball Program or the South Oldham Dragons Basketball Programs. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com
Carroll County Lady Panthers Basketball Program
813 Hawkins Street
Carrollton, KY. 41008
South Oldham Dragon High School Basketball Programs
in care of Ed James Donation
5901 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Crestwood, KY 40014