James Robert Cutting

James "Jim" Cutting of Asheville, North Carolina passed away on Monday, July 17 of complications from sudden cardiac arrest. Jim was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the son of the late Malcolm Wallace Cutting and Mary Jean Cutting. He is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Donna (Bouchard) Cutting (Asheville, NC), his two sisters Margaret (Meg) Silva (Hendersonville, NC), Mary Ann  (Marcy) Freedman (Marco Island, Florida), and his daughter Amanda Cutting (Chicago, IL). 

He is also lovingly missed by his and Donna's two Shih Tzu rescue dogs, Moxie and Tonks. Being science-minded Jim would say that it's "biologically absurd to be Daddy to dogs" so he was the self-proclaimed "guy that Mommy lives with." 

 Jim was an avid bicyclist, hiker, and lover of nature. He was a huge music and music history buff and trips to the Sun City Studios or Ryman Auditorium were like pilgrimages to him. He studied world civilizations and religions, quoted Firesign Theatre, loved action movies, and thought Godzilla was "Oscar-worthy." He read all of L. Frank Baum’s Oz books as a child and an adult. He especially loved the illustrations of John R Neill. He loved nothing more than being out in nature with his "pack" (his wife, Donna, and their two Shih Tzus) be it hiking, visiting national and state parks, or sitting on the back balcony overlooking Haw Creek.

As a young adult, he traveled extensively even, at one point, riding with the Hog Farmers of 60's & 70's fame. He overcame many personal challenges and eventually settled in Tampa Bay, Florida where he met his wife, Donna. They lived there until they moved to Asheville, NC in 2011. Before his retirement, Jim was highly skilled in building maintenance, working as both a Facilities Operations Manager and as a tradesman at different times of his career. 

He was unassuming, quietly kind, and shared a silly sense of humor with his wife.

A service of some kind will be planned at a later date. In the meantime, there is no better way to honor Jim than by planting a tree in his memory. A grove has been set up in his honor within the Sequoia National Forest and those who feel led may donate a tree here: https://www.treesforachange.com/pages/james-jim-cutting?fbclid=IwAR3Rbnn2gWbDHVBWjiZWzRI9khMBSKXgIZyuveTBlS2yTjLU77w8IYZ6O7Y.

The care of Mr. Cutting has been entrusted to A Simple Cremation.