James D. LaRue, age 91, of Plymouth, died May 29, 2023 at Newfield House of complications associated with myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer he battled for over 7 years.

He was the husband of Paula Hazzard LaRue and the son of the late Ralph and Ruth LaRue. Born and raised in Ohio, Jim earned his B.S.E.E. from University of Toledo and M.S.E.E. from The Ohio State University. He remained a fan of Ohio State football, looking forward every year to the Ohio State vs Michigan game, when he would don his OSU jacket and baseball cap to watch the big game.

He spent the first half of his career as an engineer and project manager in the aeronautical and defense industries, transitioning to business development in the software industry in the late 1970's. He retired in 2001 and spent the next 20 years pursuing his numerous interests.

Jim enjoyed gardening and couldn't wait to start planting annuals each May. He always had the stereo on, playing CDs from his huge collection that included everything from folk to jazz to classical music. Jim was an avid reader of non-fiction, especially history, religion, and biographies. He was conversant in wide variety of subjects which made him a great Trivial Pursuit partner.

Being mechanically inclined, Jim turned his hand to electrical, plumbing, and carpentry projects and repaired cars, appliances, HVAC systems, televisions, radios, and computers. He particularly savored any challenge that required acquisition of a new tool.

His true passion, however, was cooking. He had shelves full of cookbooks and an amazingly well-equipped kitchen. He loved to entertain, carefully planning and preparing dinners for 10 to 20 people. He often invited neighbors over for spontaneous dinner parties where he would serve something he created just that afternoon.

Jim loved animals and they loved him. Over the years he had a variety of pets, including ponies, hens, fish, birds and cats. He also fed wild birds, ducks and squirrels, and gave names to the chipmunks who responded to his voice and ate peanuts from his hand. There was always a dog in the family; the newest LaRue pet, a puppy named Jasper, would visit Jim at Newfield House and cuddle with Jim on his bed.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Tom LaRue, and his sister, JoAnn LaRue Lewis. He is survived by his wife of nearly 41 years, Paula Hazzard LaRue; his brother, Dan LaRue of Sylvania OH; his children, Rebecca LaRue of West Chester PA, Robin Spurlino of Downingtown PA, Christopher LaRue of Wickliffe OH, Dawn Kaminski of Centerville OH, Michael Hazzard of Alexandria VA, and Kevin Hazzard of Woburn, MA; 14 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; his former wife, Victoria LaRue, of Centerville, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim's family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Newfield House for the care and kindness they provided to him in the last year and a half of his life, especially in light of the challenges and restrictions they faced during the COVID emergency, which were only recently lifted.

Visiting hours will be held at Cartmell-Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home, 619 State Rd., Plymouth (Manomet) on Wednesday, June 28, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm with a service at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Jim to the Plymouth Public Library Foundation or to the Plymouth Center for the Arts.