James Barton cherished by all who knew him

Dr. James Barton was beloved.

Since his death from a heart attack on Dec. 28, there’s been an outpouring of grief and reminiscences from acquaintances, colleagues and the many, many friends he made among the patients he served during the 32 years he practiced orthodontics in Coeur d’Alene.

Family members, of course, revere their memories of their husband, father and grandfather who died at age 68 during a family vacation in Hawaii. But this was a man who was cherished and respected by seemingly all who knew him.

Rhonda Sand of Coeur d’Alene said, “Jim was a blessing to me, even though he was just my orthodontist. I remember how kind he was and cared about my life. He took off my top braces just so I could be in a pageant one weekend, and then he made sure I had them completely off for my wedding day.”

Another former patient, Kim Haddock of Hayden Lake, says Dr. Barton influenced her whole life. “I was so shocked and extremely saddened by the loss of one of the best people I’ve ever known. Jim not only gave me a beautiful smile, but he launched what has been a terrific career. I’ve always considered him a ‘father figure,’ and most certainly a mentor.

“I started my career as his patient and assistant, and after 31 years I’m still practicing dental hygiene,” she says. “I have him to thank for it.”

Jim Barton was an immigrant to Idaho. Born and raised in Missouri, he attended the University of Missouri, graduating with a degree in chemistry and zoology.

He might have remained a Midwesterner but for the two summers he worked as a fishing guide in Yellowstone National Park. There, he met Christine McDaniel of Pocatello.

“He was going to be either a doctor or a dentist,” Christine, his wife of 44 years, recalls. “He finally settled on dentistry since that would give him more time to spend with a family.”

While waiting to enter dental school, Barton taught high school chemistry, then worked as a biologist for the Atomic Energy Commission in Arco.

His year of teaching helped solidify a pair of twin loves, for education and youngsters.

He was asked to run for the North Idaho College Board of Trustees in 1972, then served 18 years on that board, including a term as chairman.

Tony Stewart, an NIC political science professor and fellow board member, describes Jim Barton as “very intelligent and a distinctly calming influence on everyone with whom he came into contact.

“He also had the courage of his convictions,” Stewart says. “In 1977, when he was chair, 5,000 people signed a petition attempting to block a presentation on the NIC campus of a program on human sexuality by a University of Washington professor.

“Jim didn’t give in to those petitioners. He said that would be a betrayal of academic freedom and free speech.”

Stewart says Barton remained committed to the growth of NIC programs and facilities to the end of his days.

He obviously transmitted his love of education to his children. Son Jim teaches in Sandpoint and daughter Christina Edmundson, a lawyer, teaches pre-law at NIC.

Son Jeff in San Francisco has retired from a computer company and is in graduate school, taking courses to prepare himself for a dental or medical career.

Barton was a swim team parent, a skier and a sailor. For years, he skippered a catamaran on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and for the past 13 years he supervised the design and construction of a 39-foot sailboat by a boat building firm in Portland.

“He visited the boat every six weeks,” Christine recounts. “And he planned to sail it in the San Juan Islands.”

Sadly, he got to handle the vessel only once before he died.

A neighbor and gym buddy, Dexter Yates, describes his friend as “strong in his convictions, yet gentle.

“We both suffered from back pain, so that was kind of a bond as we chatted in the locker room after workouts. Whenever he saw me walking near our homes on Stanley Hill, he stopped, and we’d gab. And my wife and I met him and Christine often at community fund-raisers.

“He was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”

In addition to his widow and children, Barton is survived by grandchildren Lucas Barton, Alexa Edmundson, Kyle Edmundson and Margo Barton.