James S. Huneycutt

On September 11, 2013, James S. Huneycutt, or "Doc" as he was affectionately known to his patients and friends, passed from this world. A dentist by profession, he was born in Appalachia, Virginia on December 18, 1931, to Ora and William Huneycutt, the sixth of eight children. He is survived by his wife, Mavis Ellen Huneycutt of Spartanburg, South Carolina, his younger brother Phil, two sons James Strong Huneycutt, Jr. of Richmond, Virginia, and Dr. William "Scott" Huneycutt of Pocatello, Idaho, as well as four grandchildren. He joins his sisters Elizabeth Masters, Jane Asher, and Ruther Trammel, and brothers Bus, Ralph, and Ben.
James attended Appalachia High School, where he played football for the Bulldogs, co-captaining the team his senior year in 1950 to an impressive season that saw "the Dawgs" undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. After high school he attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College, where he played offensive center and noseguard. He followed his brother Ralph to the University of Tennessee, where Ralph had established himself as the starting center of the 1949 Cotton Bowl team after serving in the Navy in the Second World War. During his two years at the University of Tennessee, James practiced alongside and befriended Doug Atkins, considered by many to be the greatest lineman in the history of professional football.
After transferring to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, James' attention turned to a premedical curriculum in chemistry, and a local independent minded beauty named Mavis Ellen Giles, whom he pursued with the same reckless abandon he displayed on the gridiron. Upon graduation, he received an invitation from the United States Army to join the Cold War. Before leaving for duty with the Chemical Corps at Fort McClellan, Alabama, he had the good fortune to marry Mavis on April 2, 1955. They occupied married quarters in Anniston during his active duty, and Mavis worked at the post as an Army secretary.
Upon discharge from the military, James attended dental school at the Medical College of Virginia, where he graduated in 1960. Some of the lifelong friends he met there included Dr. Sonny Summerdal, Dr. John Kontopanis, Dr. Gene Kilbourne, Dr. William Fuqua, and Dr. Tommy VanKuren. After purchasing a home in Colonial Heights, Virginia, he opened his dental office in the summer of 1960. James and Mavis had their first son, James Jr. in October of that year. William "Scott" followed two years later.
During his 35 years as a practicing dentist, James was active in the Kiwanis Club, the American Dental Association, and the Virginia Dental Association, where he served as president. As his practice grew, so did his skills and expertise. However, building a successful dental practice was never enough for his entrepreneurial spirit. He started or helped to start numerous ventures, including a cemetery, a dental practice seminar business, a water treatment company, a computerized medical billing firm, construction of a medical office complex, and a health club consulting business. If a venture flourished, he rarely took credit, but if the endeavor proved less than successful, he always took full financial and personal responsibility.
His hobbies included woodworking, farming, his green house, scuba diving, and hunting and fishing, which he enjoyed in the company of his sons, his friends from all walks of life, and his beloved rat terrier, Skippy. In 2004, James and Mavis relocated to Pocatello Idaho, to be near their grandchildren. James was known from Virginia to Idaho for his ability to entertain children with his jokes and story-telling and his "magic thumb" trick. James was infinitely patient and kind with children of all ages.
With his wife Mavis by his side, supporting him in all ways, and correcting him when needed, he possessed a true life partner. James was equally comfortable with, and told the same jokes to all men, whether they were successful businessmen, doctors, attorneys or judges, or struggling with substance abuse or financial ruin. He was known to bail his friends out of jail, organize interventions, and pay for college educations without ever expecting anything in return.
James will be remembered as the first to come to the aid of a friend or loved one, and the last to leave a good party.
A memorial service will be held in Colonial Heights, Virginia on October 6, 2013 at a time and place to be announced. For further information contact James Huneycutt Jr. at jimhuneycutt@comcast.net.