A son of the late Guy M. and Helen Loretta Brophey Handley, he was born Sept. 21, 1924, in East Liverpool.

A lifetime area resident, he retired after 23 years of service from the former Crucible Steel Co. in Midland. In his retirement, he continued to work at the Flowerland Florist in Chester, and most recently, he worked as a guard at the Ergon Co. in Newell.

A member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Chester, he was active in the choir and as a former parish council member. He graduated from the former Immaculate Conception grade school in Wellsville and later from the Wellsville High School. He had been an intricate part of the communitiy of Chester, where he served on the city council from 1988 to 2001. He was a social member of the Chester American Legion post 121 and VFW post 6450.

Preceding him in death was a son, Jerry Handley, and a sister, Susan Orr.

Surviving at home is his wife, Martha Lane Handley, whom he married in 1944. A son, David M. Handley of Mesa, Ariz., also survives. In addition is his daughter-in-law, Patti Handley Emmerling of Chester and six grandchildren, Brian Handley and his wife Stephanie of Chester, Matthew Handley of East Liverpool and Desiree Handley, Damian Handley and his wife Kari and Drew and Dallen Handley, all of Mesa. There are also three great-grandchildren, Garrett and Lee Handley of Chester and Gage Hancock of Mesa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Father Rodger Hughes at 10 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will follow at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Wellsville. The family will be present to receive friends at the Arner Funeral Chapel in Chester from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Friends and family are invited to attend a gathering for food and fellowship on Friday at the Sacred Heart Center immediately following the services.

CHESTER - Chester lost one of its former long-time councilmen Monday evening at around 11:30 p.m. when James Handley died after suffering complications he received during an automobile accident which took place Sunday evening.

Handley, 79, who had been a Chester councilman for nearly 20 years, died one day after he had been struck by a vvehicle while he was walking near the intersection fo Carolina Avenue and Fourth Street.

Handley was crossing the street when he stepped into the path of the southbound vehickle, according to Chester Police Department Lt. J. M. Bryan.

Handley, a Chester resident, was transported to the East Liverpool City Hospital and then taken by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh area hospital.

"We will all miss him very much," said Shirley Barnhart, one of Chester's former long-time clerks. "He was a very, very involved and active councilman.

Handley was chariman of the council street committee for many years and worked extensively at making sure enough supplies were ordered to make sure road repairs were accomplished and enough salt was ordered while trying to work within a tight city budget, Barnhart said.

"You could always depend on Jim to be there when you needed him," Barnhart said.

Barnhart recalled many days until a few years ago when Handley would drive his trademark 1950s-model bicycle around town as a means of getting exercise during his elderly years.

Mayor Ken Morris said the town will greatly miss Handley because he was a good man as well as a good councilman.

Morris said he recalls the time Chester officials three years ago provided Handley with a plaque upon his retirement from office recognizing his many years of public service.

"When he got sick he retired," Morris said. "He cared so very much about the town."

Morris added, "He always wanted the Street Department to run as efficiently as possible."

Councilman Pete Arner agreed with Morris and Barnhart, saying Handley was a very good councilman.

"He did many good things for Chester and he always put the interests of the citizens of Chester first," Arner said. "He will be missed."

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Arner Funeral Chapel in Chester.