Harvey "James" Middle Calf

Harvey "James" Middle Calf, 83, of Olney, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Helia Healthcare of Olney.

James Middle Calf was born in Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the son of James and Margaret (Weasel Head) Middle Calf, where he lived until the age of 18. He attended the Blackfeet Indian Agency Boarding School from 1st through 12th grade. He later attended Cypress Community College for two years in Cypress, California, some years later after leaving the reservation. James left college to accept a position with the Alpha Beta Restaurant Chain to work as their head chef and training coordinator from 1978 until 1983.

James met his wife Lynda while residing in Southern California in the fall of 1982. They were married in August of 1984 in Las Vegas during their move from California to Olney, Illinois.

James began doing remote craft work, making clowns at home for a company in Florida. He later changed the designs and began doing work for himself evolving from making clowns to Dream Catchers after he lost his vision. His wife, Lynda, taught him how to weave the Dream Catcher’s webs.

James lost his eyesight in the summer of 1992 to eye disease. With the assistance of Illinois Department of Rehabilitation out of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and the correspondence courses through Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Illinois he learned to read Braille and how to be proficient with the use of his white cane. Living in Olney at the time, he was anxious to meet another blind person and in the summer of 1995 was put in touch with James Veale, and Olney Lions Club member.

James is survived by his wife, Lynda Middle Calf of Olney; son, Jason James Middle Calf; step-son, James Fowlkes of Bernie, MO; grandchildren, Ramkin Middle Calf, Declan Middle Calf, Cailyn Fowlkes, Tyler Fowlkes, Brynix Fowlkes, and Harmyn Fowlkes; sisters, Carmen (Jeff) Huot and Linda (Bill) Coukoulis, both of CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A visitation will be held for friends and family on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney. A funeral service will be held for James the following morning, Wednesday, May 22 at 10:00 AM, also at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney.

Memorials can be made to Lions of Illinois Endowment Fund.