James "J.G." O'Rafferty, 80 passed away at home on January 16, 2021 after a long battle with heart disease.

James was born Oct 19, 1940 in Paducah, Kentucky to James T Smith and Emma Mae Dupree. He is preceded in death by his parents and a son (Kevin). He is survived by his wife Wendy O'Rafferty and his children James, Shawna and Justin, along with 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

James' greatest love was his music. He started playing the steel guitar at age 8 and quickly advanced to a level where his teacher could no longer teach him. He was a music prodigy with the ability to play any instrument he picked up. He performed for the PTA at age 8 and was terrified when he received a standing ovation. He went on to play in several bands until he had his own band J.G. O'Rafferty and Pleasant Company. He was contracted with Electra Records and recorded several albums and singles. He played on the Chicago 5 album and received the CMA award for steel guitar player of the year and bass player of the year several times. James performed alongside some of the greatest musicians of his time. He always said, "I did more the first thirty years of my life than most people do in a lifetime".

James enjoyed learning new things and he was always inventing. He didn't own anything he hadn't modified in some way to improve it. He had his commercial pilots license and several patents for his inventions. James was a gypsie at heart never staying in one place for too long. He called several places his home until he finally found his perfect place in Defuniak Springs, Florida where he finally retired.

James faced life head on. He had charisma and dominated a room when he entered it. If you went to him for advice he would say, "there are three answers to every question in life. What you want it to be, what you don't want it to be, and what it really is". His children grew up believing in leprechauns as he would threaten to "send his leprechaun to pee in your ear" if you didn't behave and as a young child he would tell us his leprechaun would watch over us while he was gone. He created magic with his stories and his music. He leaves behind him an amazing legacy. His music will live on forever in the hearts of those who loved him.