ESPERANCE — When he was just 19, James A. Blyth Sr. built a home for the couple who raised him, launching a career in carpentry. He died on Wednesday, Jan. 14, with his family by his side, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady after a long fight. He was 69.

He had lived on Junction Road in the town of Esperance, Schoharie County.

Mr. Blyth was born in a chicken coop on Oct. 26, 1945 in Charlotteville, New York.  He was raised in Berne by Jesse and Julia Litts and attended school in Schoharie and Berne.

“At the age of 19, he built his first home, for Jesse and Julia, which began his carpentry career.  He joined the Carpenter’s Union and worked for Zandry Construction and Billy Zautner in Delmar,” his family wrote in a tribute. “Once he learned the trade, Jim built custom homes throughout the Capital Region for many years until health issues forced his retirement.”

Mr. Blyth enjoyed woodworking, custom cabinetry, and playing cards and was an avid fan of stock car racing and sports of all kinds. He was fond of his two cats, Maggie and Lucy. He also coached Little League Baseball in Berne and assisted his wife in the antiques business.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie (née Roland) Blyth whom he married on May 1, 1981; his children, Carolyn A. Blyth and Kathy of Gloversville, James A. Blyth Jr. and his wife, Bunny, of St. Johnsville, Daniel T. Blyth and his wife, Lisa, of Schoharie, Richard C. Diamond and his wife, Laura, of Edmund, Oklahoma, Andrea G. Borst and her husband, Brian, of Schoharie, Brian R. Diamond and his wife, Annette, of Hartsville, South Carolina, Jeff Blyth of Albany, Kimberley A. Klingbeil of Schenectady and Jemima A. Schinnerer and her husband, Mark, of West Fulton; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He is also survived by his brother Joseph Blyth of Orlando, Florida; three sisters, Barbara Morrison of Rotterdam, Judy Parker of Watervliet, and Annette Becker of Berne; and several nieces and nephews.

His brothers, Edward and John Blyth, died before him.

A time of remembrance was held on Jan. 18 at the Langan Funeral Home in Schoharie. Interment will be later in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Berne. Further information is available at www.langanfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to SCRUFF (Spaying Capital Region Unowned Feral Felines) Cats, Post Office Box 200, Guilderland, NY 12084 www.scruffcats.org.