James R. Bryant, 77

MEREDITH — James “Jim” Roger Bryant, 77, passed away on Feb. 20, 2026, at Golden View Health Care Center in Meredith.

Jim was born on July 15, 1948, in Laconia, the son of the late John W. Bryant Jr. and Laura Mae (Wilkins) Bryant. He grew up in Meredith and graduated from Inter-Lakes High School in 1966. Jim received his associate’s degree in heating refrigeration and air conditioning from Manchester Community College. In July of 1969, Jim married Patricia Lacroix and they started their lifelong journey together.

Jim started his career as a teenager working for Herb Martin at the Texaco station. After college he worked for McDonald's Corp. with his friend Gary Moulton; he then moved on and worked for Harvey Dutile in Laconia. After that he started his long career in the lumber industry. The company had two locations that he worked in, but many different names (Prescott Lumber Co., Gerrity Building Center, Bradco, Wickes, and LaValley Middleton). He had several different positions while working in the lumber industry from a store manager, truss shop foreman, heading up the millwork division, and then an inside contractor salesperson.

Many builders and contractors locally still speak of missing the opportunity to work with Jim on their projects. While his family was starting to grow, Jim had worked as a tractor-trailer driver at night for Lang and Wallace as a second income to help provide for the family. He loved driving tractor trailer, and when he and Pat were juggling jobs and a young family, it wouldn’t be unusual to find that he had a passenger with him (essentially, he had another job of “child care” while he was on the road). He also did side private work including electrical, building construction, just about anything anyone needed done. Jim was always tinkering and loved to help anyone in need. He enjoyed being a people person and was very trustworthy. Jim would always go above and beyond for his customers. He would often use his very own pick-up truck to deliver any supplies that customers needed if the deliveries were running late.

In addition to helping others that he knew personally, it was also very important for him to be of service to his community. As a young man Jim enlisted and is an Army veteran. He was also a volunteer firefighter for many years and enjoyed his time giving back to the community. He worked at the Plymouth Fire Station from 1971 to 1975, and Meredith Fire Station from 1976 to 1990, where he retired as the assistant chief. The fire department wasn’t just a job or duty for Jim — it was a lifestyle. From helping to maintain equipment, to working on the facilities, to organizing musters and cookouts, he also involved his family and considered those he served with as extended family on many occasions. There were numerous occasions to get together with the fire department family, dinner dances, awards, turkey raffles, T-shirt sales, 4th of July on the lawn, truly a family lifestyle. It wasn’t unusual for a Bryant family gathering to quickly become a half empty table as Jack, Jim and Roger dashed out to answer a call for someone in need.

He and his wife Patricia built their dream home together from the ground up in 1985. The two of them grew to love spending time with their horses at their home. They moved to Maine in 1991, for a simpler life where Jim continued to raise and take care of horses and ride his tractor.

Once his grandchildren had arrived, Jim and Pat moved back to New Hampshire, to be closer to both new and senior members of the family.

Jim was an extremely hard worker and incredibly proud of his family. He passed the same hard-working traditions and ethics on to his children and grandchildren.

He had a quick wit and always had a unique saying to end a conversation. In his later years Jim enjoyed golfing very much, which inspired them to pack up and retire to The Villages in Florida. Polishing his golf cart soon became a second hobby. Jim enjoyed singing karaoke, helping with Toastmasters, bowling leagues, and racquetball. He was the kind of guy that could hang with any crowd with many identities: James, Jim, Slim, Rerun, George (barn name), and affectionally to Pat as Honey.

Jim is survived by his son Jason Bryant and his partner Suzy Fortier of Laconia; daughter Leslie Bryant and her wife Jennifer of Canterbury; sister Joanne Hawkins and her husband Roger; sister-in-law Donna Reidy; grandchildren Abigail Bryant, Benjamin Bryant and Jonathan Bryant; nieces Michelle Martin, Denice Crane, Heidy Cammilleri, and several other nieces and nephews. Jim is also survived by his dear devoted cousin and lifelong friend Skip Greemore, whose kindness and caring to Jim in the most recent times was a beautiful tribute to the bond they had. In addition to his parents, Jim is predeceased by his wife, Patricia Elaine (Lacroix) Bryant, and his brother, John Bryant III.

A celebration of life will be held at Laconia Country Club from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. 

A processional and graveside service will be held this spring at Village Cemetery, Meredith. Timing of those services will be announced later in the spring.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.