Marblehead- In Marblehead, Jim will be remembered for his jigsaw puzzles, his love of sailing and his cheerful temperament. Some people will also remember a sign shaped as a puzzle piece that said – This business keeps puzzling hours.

Jim died on August 12 after a fall on August 1 and complications. He was cared for at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

Jim was born December 19, 1933 in Manhattan. He went to the Eaglebrook School when he was twelve and after graduation moved onto Taft. In the middle of his college years at Yale, he joined the Army to fulfill his service in Germany. He graduated from Yale in 1959 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jim worked at Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. in Rockford, IL for twenty years where he used his skills to design cutting tools. During this time, he was married to Jutta Eisold and they raised three children. In the Midwest he enjoyed lake sailing, skiing, photography and many trips to Chicago to enjoy the Symphony and Opera.

He moved to Marblehead in 1979 to continue his joy in sailing and to connect with another branch of his family in Hamilton. He decided to create his own business called JC Ayer & Co. and create wooden jigsaw puzzles using water jet technology combined with computer software. Ayer Puzzles continue to be enjoyed by thousands of customers in the US and overseas.

Jim served for many years on the EYC race committee and in the choir of St. Michael's Church. Another of his favorite activities was gourmet cooking and having friends over for dinner parties both on Chestnut Street in Salem, on Ballast Lane, Marblehead. He was also very knowledgeable about wines and orchids.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Tyler Ayer, his stepson Geoff Van Wyck and his children, Peter Ayer (Anne) in Marblehead, James (Paola) in New York and Elizabeth Lee (Jack) in California. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Serena Rose Lee, Annabelle, Toby, Elizabeth, Ethan, Chloe, and Cedric. He is also survived by two brothers Tony on Orcas Island and Rick in Marrakech, Morocco.

Arrangements : A memorial service will be private on a date to be determined. The family is grateful for all the care he received at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. For more information, or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.