James S. Robèrt, born Jim Morris, died unexpectedly on January 19, 2018, in Tucson, AZ, leaving behind a legacy of art and music to be enjoyed by others for years to come.

Jim was born in Biloxi, MS, to Jim and Joanne Morris (Robèrt) on October 26, 1953. He grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA, where he attended Bainbridge High School. He then studied classical piano at Cornish College of the Arts.

Jim was a true artist. He was an accomplished painter, similar to his notable Robèrt family from Switzerland, and he was a master luthier. While visiting Europe in his twenties, Jim was able to study some original Stradivarius violins and manuscripts in an archive in Cremora, Italy. Always up for a challenge, Jim researched and developed his own violin varnish, a close replica of Stradivari varnish. Jim guarded his recipe just like the master violin makers of long ago and was at one time able to use it while working on an original Stradivarius. 

He had one daughter, Brittany, whom he adored. When together, they would talk and laugh for hours. He lived in Washington State, Florida, and Arizona, but he always considered Washington State his home.

Jim never lost his love of adventure and the arts and was also fond of the ‘Old West’. He spent many years acting in the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, AZ, as Morgan Earp. During Jim’s time in Tombstone, he owned the historic Jeff Milton house. Always employing his sense of humor, Jim told friends and family that the ghosts residing in the Jeff Milton house were “friendly ghosts" and approved of all the restorations he made to the historic home. Jim was also known for his love of all creatures, but especially horses and dogs. He could often be found riding his horse, Eddie, through the Southern Arizona desert on old wagon roads with his dogs, Belle and Bear, trailing happily behind. In more recent years, in addition to painting, he became more engaged in cinematography and acting while opening a violin workshop in Tucson, AZ. He also started his own YouTube channel dedicated to violin making and to teaching others about the fine art (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrawayOA71eKkTtPJ_LLWlQ).

Jim is survived by his daughter, Brittany Morris, from Macon, GA, and Linda Morris. He is also survived by his mother, Joanne Morris, and Les Peterson in Bremerton, WA, his brother, Ed Morris, in Bremerton, WA, and his brother, Kelly Morris, and Ann Lesperance on Bainbridge Island, WA. He has many cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Jim Morris.

The family would like to thank the many artists in Tombstone, Sierra Vista, and Tucson, AZ, who became his artist family, as well as his many thousands of Facebook friends and supporters from around the world who recognized his talent and with whom he valued both friendship and conversations.

Memorial services are being planned for early March in the Seattle area. For those wanting to express or share stories about Jim, please go to https://www.facebook.com/jsrobertviolin. For those who want to donate something in his honor, please either dedicate a donation to your local orchestra or donate to his GoFundMe which will go toward finding ways to honor Jim’s memory. https://www.gofundme.com/james-s-robert-memory-fund