James Hays Maitland, 52

James Hays Maitland, 52, of Mayville, New York, died Jan. 8, 2020, from various complications from suffering a traumatic brain injury while working as a federal law enforcement officer.

Jim was born in Rochester, New York. He attended Webster Central Schools, and moved to Kalispell in 1977. Jim attended Mountain Brook School and graduated from Flathead High School in Kalispell. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1987. He achieved many awards during his service. Upon honorable discharge from the Coast Guard he relocated to Seattle where he met his first wife, Lisa Welles, and had their son, Caleb James Hays Maitland.

In 2009 Jim and Caleb moved to West Virginia where he worked for Bureau of Prisons until his accident in 2015. Jim relocated to Lake Chautauqua, New York, to be with his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins while Caleb followed his dream and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

Jim is survived by his son, Caleb Maitland, and his wife, Jessica, of Georgia; his brother, David Maitland and wife Kerrie, of Kalispell; brother, William Maitland and wife Mary Jane, of Kalispell, and their children Damon Maitland and wife Elizabeth of Camas, Washington, Melissa Maitland of Whitefish, and Cassie, Trevin and Gage of Kalispell; his parents, Jim and Dorothy Maitland, of Greenhurst, New York; aunt and uncle, John and Angela Maitland, of Woodlawn, New York, and cousins in Mayville, Bemus Point, Ontario and Rochester, New York, and Northeast North Carolina. He sadly leaves behind his fiancee, Connie Tomlin Kress, and many friends scattered throughout the world.

A celebration of life will be held in the summer on Lake Chautauqua.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Wounded Warriors Foundation in his honor of brain research at the Craig Institute in Colorado.