James R. "Jim" Dudley, 62, died suddenly of a heart attack April 18, at his home in Newtown. He was born December 15, 1953, in Danbury, a son of Raymond and Beverly Laflam Dudley.

He was raised in Newtown and graduated from Newtown High School in 1971.

Mr Dudley held many jobs over the years working at companies like Dupont, Culligan, and many miscellaneous construction jobs. In the late 1980s he moved to Alabama and spent several years working with his brother, Wendell, who ran a flooring business called Dudley Flooring. After spending some time back in the Newtown area, he moved to Rochester, Vt., to be closer to his children. While in Vermont he spent time working at Killington, GMHA, Vermont Castings, and some light construction he did on his own.

He was a very skilled carpenter and was also extremely good with auto mechanics. His interests included Western movies, live music (classic rock and roll), "tinkering" on Chevys, cooking, and the South. He was well-liked, with many friends in the Bethel, Hancock, and Rochester area.

He returned to Newtown, after living in Kentucky, where he had been caring for his mother since.

His mother; a daughter and son-in-law, Jessica (Dudley) and Jared Arsenault of Rochester, Vt.; a son, Dillon Dudley of Rochester, Vt.; a sister Barbara Dudley-Riebe and husband, Michael, of Sandy Hook; three brothers, Larry Dudley, and wife Linda, of Newtown, Sammy Dudley, and wife Jean, of Gloucester, Va., and Wendell Dudley of Mobile, Ala., survive Mr Dudley. He had two grandchildren that he loved very much, Aiden and Addison Arsenault of Rochester, Vt.; and many friends, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. His father, Raymond F. Dudley, predeceased him.

"If you knew Jim, chances are you liked him." He had a kind heart and will be missed very much by all who knew him.

A funeral service will take place Saturday, May 21, at 1 pm, at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. A committal service is planned for Saturday, May 28, at 11 am, at the Franklin Cemetery in Franklin, Vt.

Donations in his memory are welcomed and can be sent to the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.