Julie James Hand died suddenly and unexpectantly on June 2, 2021, following major surgery at EIRMC.

Julie Lynn James was born on August 4,1965, to Robert and Carol James. Julie was the youngest of three children. She attended schools in Rexburg, Blackfoot, and Idaho Falls, graduating from Skyline High School in 1983. She attended the University of Idaho and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in both chemistry and microbiology in 1989. While in college, Julie was severely injured in a car/semi-truck accident near Salmon, Idaho. She recovered after months in the hospital, but the accident changed her life forever, leaving her with chronic pain and physical damage.

Julie started work as a chemist at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory in 1990. She married Rodney Hand in 1997. Rod and Julie were fortunate enough to be able to retire early in 2004, and they built a new home, much of it themselves, at Willow Creek Summit between the towns of Mackay and Challis.

Julie had a number of accomplishments while working at the INL but was most proud of her U.S. patent for a zero-headspace extractor. Julie also worked for several years after retirement as a part time tax preparer. She was a voracious reader, and her library included five full kindles and thirteen tall bookcases, plus numerous stacks of books. She read nearly constantly, read while performing chores and read while watching TV.

Julie appreciated the peaceful, somewhat isolated life at her Willow Creek Summit home, massively enjoyed reading, loved her dogs and cat, and liked hunting. She studied all current event topics and researched thoroughly the basis for each particular issue in order to separate fact from news/political spin.

Julie was preceded in death by her father and mother and is survived by her sister Marcy (Bud), brother Bobby (Jacki), nephews Justin and Nathan (Bryanna), a number of cousins, her stepdaughter, Cindy (Dan), her grandchildren, Will and Madeleine, and her husband, Rod.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery in Mackay, Idaho under the care of the Anderson Family Funeral Home of Arco.