James Oliver DeRossett

James Oliver DeRossett (Jim), age 89, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, in Franklin, Tennessee. Born in Premier, West Virginia on May 18, 1937, James spent the last 31 years in Tennessee after relocating from Mobile, Alabama in 1995. He was preceded in death by his parents, Asa (Acy) Norman and Flora Etta (Rose) DeRossett of Welch, West Virginia, three elder brothers, and one sister.

James will be fondly remembered for his warmth, kindness, and remarkable ability to connect with everyone he met. He loved mentoring others and freely shared his knowledge and talents with anyone eager to learn. One of his favorite hobbies while living in Mobile was deep sea fishing in the Gulf – whether competing in rodeos or just enjoying time with family and friends. Many summer outings concluded with a fish fry and a cold beer, surrounded by family and friends on Dauphin Island, Alabama.

He served 4 years in the United States Air Force as part of the 11th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron. His natural aptitude for electronics was further refined during his service, paving the way for a long and successful career at IBM in Mobile. Throughout his time at IBM, he was recognized with numerous accolades for his dedication to service and expertise as a Field Specialist Customer Engineer. He had the honor of serving as manager and mentor to many colleagues throughout his career at IBM. After retiring from IBM, he went on to serve as a manager for Kodak and Danka Corporation, and then eased into his final retirement gig as a car salesman for several dealerships in Middle Tennessee until he was in his early eighties.

James was a devoted husband, friend, father, and PeePaw. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lenora Demetropolis DeRossett. He is survived by his daughters, Stephanie DeRossett Nelson (Jack) of Franklin, TN, and Ashley DeRossett Livingston (Phillip) of Greenville, SC.; grandchildren James Nelson (Taylor) of Brentwood, TN, Olivia Nelson (Brian Trost) of New York, NY., and Stella Livingston of Greenville, SC. He is also survived by several in-laws, nieces and nephews who cherished him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation (www.sealabfoundation.org) in memory of James “Jim” DeRossett.