A private service was held June 27. A celebration of James’ life will take place in Yankton, S.D., at a later date.

James Ray Meyer was born Jan. 5, 1986, in Yankton, S.D., to Lisa (Meyer) Madarassy. He lived in Hartington for the first 12 years of his life. When James was 9, Ed Madarassy became a part of his life and later his step father. The family moved to Yankton, S.D., where James attended middle school and graduated from Yankton High School in 2004. He then attended college at South Dakota State University for international marketing.

James worked in sales and finance throughout his life. He was wonderfully talented and very intelligent. He received first place in the Yankton Press and Dakotan’s Spelling Bee. He auditioned and was selected to be a member of the Yankton Children’s Choir. In high school, he enjoyed singing and performing in plays and musicals. He was bi-lingual and was able to tour Europe with his Spanish class. James loved to cook, play board games and spend time with his family.

He is survived by his parents, Lisa Madarassy, Ennis, Mont., and Ed Madarassy, Townsend, Mont.; his brother, Taylor Madarassy, Ennis, Mont.; his nephew, Elijah Madarassy; his uncle, Larry (Shelli) Meyer, Louisville, Colo.; his aunt, Sarah Madarassy-Dale; grandmother, Bonnie Brister, Omaha; and his cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gerald and Alice Meyer, and his aunt, Cheryl Meyer.