James Bryant Conant

Jim Conant, 72, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, died just before noon Wednesday, April 20, 2022 with his wife, Kate, and children, Dan, Elle, and Beth at his bedside at Berkeley Medical Center, Martinsburg. He left us too soon after a very short illness

.James Bryant Conant was born on October 27, 1949, in Columbus, Ohio, a son of John Edwin Conant and Mary Elizabeth Ann Cooke Conant. He grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and graduated from Massanutten Military Academy in 1970. He attended Ferrum College and also received a welding certificate from Northern Virginia Community College. Jim became a bricklayer and later a carpenter and worked in construction including as foreman for many years both in Northern Virginia and in Jefferson County (after moving here in 1984). He built his current home himself.He began working at Summit Point Raceway (MotorSports Park) in 2002 as a flagger and corner worker and later worked full time in maintenance there. In 2019 he claimed to retire, but returned to work in 2020 and was still working there at the gate, in maintenance, and as a course marshal and facility escort.Jim loved to watch Washington football and NASCAR racing. For a number of years he went to Washington games in person. He did like the new name of Washington Commanders, because it is the same rank his father held: US Navy Commander.He was always busy keeping the yard mowed on his John Deere tractor and mulching the brush. When he rested on the living room couch, his beloved cat, Midget, would join him there and they would watch reruns of M*A*S*H and Perry Mason and Columbo and Hogan's Heroes.He loved his 2015 50th Anniversary Edition Ruby Red Mustang GT convertible, aka the Red Pony.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Kathryn Bailey Conant, and his children, Tasos Papaioannou (Hannah Burrack), Dan Conant (Laura Nagel), Elle Conant (Roux Noel), and Beth Conant Class (Jake Class); his sister, Liz Marcionette (Jim Marcionette); his brother, Tom Conant (Vickie Conant); granddaughters Rosie Burrack, Luna Burrack, Lucy Conant, and Alice Conant; brothers-in-law, Mike Ingles, Tom Bailey, David Bailey, and Steve Bailey (Deb Gibbons-Bailey); and many nieces and nephews and several cousins.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his sister, Laura Ingles; and sisters-in-law, Nyla Bailey, Carolyn Bailey, and Aidée Bailey.

Visiting hours will be 6-8 pm on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at the Jefferson Chapel Funeral Home, Ranson, WV.

Funeral services will be at 11 am on Monday, April 25, 2022, at Grace Episcopal Church, Middleway, WV

Burial will be at a later date.