Colleen James

OBITUARY

Colleen James (née Christy), longtime resident of Del Mar, California, died on Sept. 29, 2025, after a brave battle with Vascular Dementia.

She was born to Donald and Irene Christy in Iowa on July 30, 1944, and grew up in Bagley, Iowa, just outside Des Moines, alongside her eight brothers and sisters. Colleen graduated from Dowling High School in 1962 and went on to attend Vanderbilt University, where she earned a degree in Radiology. She later moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she met the love of her life and soulmate, Fred James. They were married on May 8, 1971, and moved to San Diego, California, where they would create a wonderful life, raising their two daughters, Alisen and Erin, and always enjoying the company of beloved family and friends.

Colleen worked as an x-ray technician and then in breast ultrasound at Scripps Clinic for 30 years before retiring. Among the moments she would never forget from her long career was meeting Mother Teresa, when the nun was at Scripps for treatment. Patients always commented on Colleen’s kind and gentle demeanor, which was one of her many remarkable traits. She was a deeply compassionate person who believed wholeheartedly in the Golden Rule.

Colleen loved her family most of all and cherished time spent with them, and she couldn’t imagine life without her “Freddie.” She also enjoyed connecting with dear friends, going for walks, playing Bunco, and watching the Padres play.

To know Colleen was to love her and she will be fiercely missed by all.

Colleen is survived by Fred James, her ever-loving husband of 54 years; daughter Alisen James and her husband Mark Rickert; daughter Erin Barrier, her husband John Barrier, and their sons Wyatt and Grant; and siblings Kay King, Theresan Guiney, Nile Christy, Muriel Ladd, Dennis Christy, and David Christy. She joins two siblings, Jack and Jim Christy, in eternal peace.

Services will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at 11am. You may send flowers to the church or make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org).