James (Jim) Landale Dun died on Jan. 22, 2021. He died of pulmonary fibrosis, and he was brave and uncomplaining throughout its trials. He was 84 years old.

Jim grew up in Staten Island, New York and Summit, New Jersey, but he was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on Aug. 7, 1936. His parents, Alice Whyte Alexander Dun and Andrew Landale Dun were Scottish. They ensured that Jim and his sister, Elizabeth Ann (Dun) Colten, maintained close connections to their relatives and to Scottish culture and traditions.

Jim himself married a first-generation Scottish-American and long-time family friend, Doreen Joyce Crawford. Doreen and Jim were married on Dec. 2, 1967. Last December, they celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. Doreen was the light of Jim’s life.

Jim earned his high school diploma from The Pingry School (then located in Elizabeth, N.J.). He earned bachelor of science degrees in industrial engineering and in business administration from Lehigh University. He later earned a master of science in industrial engineering and operations research from New York University.

Jim’s career included a variety of management and executive positions for manufacturing companies, in particular in the cable and wire industry. He spent over 20 years at Phelps Dodge Industries, starting as an industrial engineer and analyst, and culminating as plant manager at three facilities, and as assistant director of manufacturing. He then worked as a consultant at Mendenhall & Company. He finished his career at the Okonite Company, as its national director of industrial engineering.

Jim was a devoted and beloved family man. He prioritized putting the needs of others before his own and quietly doing kind things for Doreen and their children: James Alexander (Alec) Dun and Catherine Crawford Dun Rappaport; for his children’s spouses: Kelly Jenkins Dun and Hugh Dun Rappaport; and for his grandchildren: Mairi Alice (Mali) and James William (Liam) Dun, and James Crawford, Julia Elizabeth, and Linnea Hope Dun Rappaport. Jim was generally a happy man, but he was rarely happier than when he was surrounded by and doing things for and with his close family.

Jim also loved, and had a talent for, building things. He had an uncanny knack for this from a very early age. He designed, repaired, and maintained a host of well-appointed, tasteful, and functionally-sound structures. This includes the house he and Doreen lived in at Ocean Point, as well as parts of both of his children’s houses.

Jim also could coax life out of the most unforgiving shrubs or weeds. He transformed yards, meadows, and dirt patches into lush gardens and nature paths, and he enjoyed riding his tractor, solo and with his grandchildren. Jim also saw great value in maintaining and expanding upon the natural beauty of the Boothbay region, which he loved. He served as president of the Boothbay Region Land Trust and derived much pleasure from helping that organization fulfill its mission. He also relished nature walks and hikes, usually with his family and often with any number of large, sometimes well-behaved (sometimes not) family dogs.

Jim had high expectations for himself and others, and a surprisingly dry wit. He also reliably and discreetly helped others through difficult times. Despite his many accomplishments, Jim was exceedingly modest, and he had no patience for snobbery or people who put on airs.

Jim also was someone who came to respect (and even celebrate) decisions his children and grandchildren made that initially surprised or challenged him. His subtle pride in their accomplishments and in their nurturing of each other and Doreen was, and remains, a source of solace and joy for them as they mourn his death and miss his sweet, quiet company, twinkly blue eyes, and beautiful, beautiful smile.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, sister, brother-in-law Richard Colten, nephews and niece, great-nephews and nieces, and a host of Scottish family.

Those who wish to honor Jim’s memory with a donation are invited to support the Boothbay Region Land Trust, 60 Samoset Road, P.O. Box 183, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538, https://bbrlt.org. or the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, P.O. Box 468, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, www.congochurchbbh.org