James "Jim" Drury

James “Jim” Drury, 84, of South Lyon, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Jim was born on Valentine’s Day, 1942, in Berkley, Michigan, to Harris and Helen Louise Drury.

Destined to be together since elementary school, Jim married his beloved Darlene Dichtel. They began their lives together in Royal Oak and became parents to Martin and Suzanne. As their family grew, Jim found some of his greatest joys being a father, “Uncle Butch,” a grandfather and, later, a great-grandfather.

He dedicated nearly his entire career to AAA in Dearborn, Michigan. In various roles within Travel & Tourism Operations, he traveled to every corner of the state of Michigan for his work, and made more-than-occasional appearances in local media - in newspapers, on the radio, and on television.

In his later years, he worked part-time at Thayer Rock Funeral Home. He put his natural compassion to noble use - comforting and consoling families during some of their most difficult times, and deepening his own spirituality along the way.

With a contagious laugh and a gift for storytelling, Jim had a disarming, informal warmth - and a way of calling people into his presence. From priests to the cashiers in their Hawaiian shirts at Trader Joe’s, from bartenders to bank tellers - he delighted in the company of strangers who, more often than not, quickly became friends.

He was a music lover - and his tastes were impressively wide-ranging. From John Prine to Emmylou Harris, Kraftwerk to “Mongolian Throat Singing” - and everything in between - he appreciated the emotion of all varieties of music. Similar to how he moved through the world and interacted with others - he had a gift for finding connection and authenticity, in all of its shapes and forms.  

That impressive range was not limited to just music - it showed itself in seemingly all topics. He had a thirst for knowledge, an insatiable intellectual curiosity, and an eerily good memory. He was an avid reader, and was devoutly well-informed on current events.  He would conversate - and often, hold strong opinions - about nearly anything. Interactions with Jim were punctuated by a showing of his vast vocabulary, often drawing confused looks from his audience - at least from his grandchildren - until a dictionary could be found. He simply knew a lot about a lot - and he loved putting that knowledge to good use in the form of spirited conversation. 

For a man of his intellectual and linguistic capabilities, when Jim “let his hair down” he had a humble informality to the way he spoke - which he jokingly attributed to his family’s “Kentucky hillbilly” ancestry. From his weathered leather chair or his stool at the kitchen counter, Jim could turn an ordinary visit into a full afternoon of laughter and story-telling. He loved people, and his presence made his company feel welcomed and at ease. His home was a place where folks could drop in, sit down, and stay awhile (bourbon encouraged).

He lived a full life, filled with love, family, and friendships.  He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his quick wit, his youthful passion, his outspoken reverence for the ideals of our country, his excellent taste in music, and his tireless commitment to Sperry’s boat shoes and cargo shorts in winter. 

Jim is survived by his eternal, feline best friend, Miss Kittie. She was his consistent companion and, as anyone who knew them can attest, quite possibly the one member of the household who was truly in charge.

He is also survived by his granddaughter Natalie Yadon and her husband, Andrew; grandson Jonathon Drury and his wife, Paige; and granddaughter Madeline Drury. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Drury.

He was incredibly proud of his three great-grandchildren, Cosmo, Mabel, and Hayes. They brought him an immense amount of joy and lots of laughs and gave him yet another reason to be proud of his family.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Harris and Helen Louise; his beloved wife, Darlene; his daughter, Suzanne; his son, Martin; and his siblings, Bill, Larry, Mary Lou, and Paul.

No funeral services are scheduled at this time. His grandchildren encourage all who knew Jim to honor him by doing what he did best - recalling memories, sharing stories, telling jokes, and making friends out of strangers.

Donations in Jim’s honor to Ferndale Cat Shelter are deeply appreciated.