James Logan Fairchild

Jim Fairchild passed away November 16, 2023. He was born in Pasadena, California on November 1, 1939 to John L. Fairchild and Eunice Fairchild.

Jim graduated from Pasadena High School in 1957, Pasadena City College in 1959 and University of California, Berkeley in 1963 with a double major Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.

While attending John Marshall Intermediate School he became interested in gymnastics and pursued his athletic career throughout high school, junior college and college specializing in side (pommel) horse. His greatest achievement was winning the NCAA gymnastics championship taking first in side (pommel) horse in 1960 and 1961. In 2002 he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Pasadena City College. In the book of Gymnastic Apparatus Skills written by Coach Hal Frey at the University of California, Berkeley he said "At his peak he was considered by many coaches to be the best side horse gymnast in the world".

Jim married Bonnie on June 17, 1961 and moved to Trona, California in 1963. Jim started his career as a Chemist and Chemical Engineer with American Potash and Chemical Corp. working through many name changes to now Searles Valley Minerals, Inc. He celebrated 60 years with the company in 2023. Over the years he developed many new processes and had eight government patents with the company.

Jim has been registered as a Professional Chemical Engineer in California since 1969 and in Kansas since 2001 as well as a member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers since 1963. Jim was Scoutmaster of Troop 815 for 14 years (1974-1989). During this time he had 10 boys who earned their Eagle Scout Badge. For 13 years he led the boys on 50+ mile backpacking trips through the Sierra Nevada Range. All his life, he enjoyed camping, skiing, hiking and most of all fishing for two months in the summer on his prized boat at Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, since 1982.

Jim was a lifetime member and board member of the Searles Valley Historical Society. He had a passion for the history of Searles Valley. His biggest project was writing several books: "John W. Searles California Mining Pioneer" (co-author David T. Robinson), "Around Trona and Searles Valley" (co-author Russ Kaldenberg), "Early Mining at Searles Lake 1873-1929" and "Speaking from the Heart 1914-2014 Centennial Celebration" (co-author Russ Kaldenberg). He did living history presentations as John W. Searles. He was a member and Board member of the Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society and served as publicist and organizer for the annual Gem-O-Rama and Dealers Pink Halite field trip.

Jim and Bonnie have been married for 62 years. Their son John and daughter Sheryl graduated from Trona High School. John's career led him to the Film Industry as a Prop Master in film and television and Sheryl earned her degree as Doctor of Physical Therapy.

He is survived by his wife Bonnie, son John L. Fairchild (Dinah LeHoven), daughter Sheryl Fairchild (Chelsea Opp), granddaughter Amanda (Sean) Jenei, granddaughter Emily (Steven) Cronkhite, great grandsons Aiden Cronkhite and Logan Cronkhite, his nieces Christine Krause and family and Kathy Pearson and family and many cousins.

He is preceded in death by his father John L. Fairchild, mother Eunice Fairchild, sister Sally Magee and brother-in-law Patrick Magee.

Cremation services are being handled by Holland and Lyons Mortuary. At the family's request there will be no service, but we will invite anybody who wants to share memories of Jim at a later date at the Searles Valley Cemetery.