James Neff (Jimmie) Houff, Mayor of Clifton Forge, Virginia, passed away in his home on October 19, 2012, surrounded by his family.

Jimmie was born February 19, 1938, in the C&O Hospital in Clifton Forge, Virginia. He was the son of the late Dr. Louis A. Houff and Ethel Bartlett Houff.

He attended Moody Elementary School and graduated in the Class of 1956 from Clifton Forge High School. Jimmie was a graduate of the University of Virginia, Class of 1962. While at UVA, he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Jimmie's professional career was spent as a Supervisory Economist with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, DC.

He retired in 1999 and returned to Clifton Forge in 2004 along with his wife and loyal schnauzer, Hokie. His community spirit quickly became evident. Jimmie was President of the Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association. He was a former Vice President of the Cowpasture River Preservation Association, member of the C&O Railway Heritage Center, member of the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center, Secretary of the Clifton Forge Economic Development Corporation, member of the Elks, and member of the Clifton Forge Coffee Club.

Jimmie was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church his entire life.

He had many interests and truly loved his family and friends, baseball, and Clifton Forge.

Jimmie was a dedicated public servant and was very pleased to be involved in the revitalization of Clifton Forge. In 2006, Jimmie was elected to the Clifton Forge Town Council. He was the Clifton Forge representative on the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission, which promotes regional cooperation and coordination across the region. He served as Vice Mayor from 2007 to 2008 and in January 2011, he was elected Mayor of Clifton Forge.

Jimmie is survived by his wife of 34 years, Dimmitt Kerby Houff, and their children: Helen Blair Houff of Arlington, Virginia; James Kerby Houff and his wife, Meredith, of New York, New York; Emilee Ann Anderson of Christiansburg, Virginia; Carrie D. Deeds; Andrew N. Houff; and his precious granddaughters, Emma Blair Anderson and Elly Powell Anderson.

Other survivors include his brother, Louis A. Houff, Jr. of Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania; nephews Dr. Stephen L. Houff of Nashville, Tennessee and Louis A. Houff, III of Memphis, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Ann Kerby Wright and her husband, Roy W. Wright of Clifton Forge, Virginia; niece, Courtney Wright of Exton, Pennsylvania, and nephew, Tyler Wright of Dalton, Georgia.

Extended family members are Paul Higgins, Huntington, West Virginia; Bonnie and Tim Carpenter, Kelly and Taylor Cunningham, Huntington, West Virginia; Jane and Marshall Higgins, Patrick and David Higgins, Richmond, Virginia; Meryl and Morrison Manner, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Ann Marie Manner, Oak Hill, Virginia; Martha and Dennis Brown, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Jean Ann Manner, Clifton Forge, Virginia; William N. Bath, Atlanta, Georgia; Patti B. White, Houston, Texas; and Jane B. Burks, Richmond, Virginia.

A gathering of family and friends will be at Nicely Funeral Home, Monday evening, October 22, 2012, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 2:00 p.m, at Nicely Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the C&O Railway Heritage Center, 705 Main Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia, 24422; the Historic Masonic Theater, 570 Main Street, Box 119, Clifton Forge, Virginia, 24422; the CFHS Alumni Association, P. O. Box 118, Clifton Forge, Virginia, 24422; and the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center, 439 East Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia, 24422.