Oroville >> James H. Rackerby, who served as Butte County’s personnel director for 18 years before retiring in 1986, died Sept. 1. He was 86.
Nicknamed Jim, family and colleagues remembered the Oroville man as someone dedicated to serving the community, even years after leaving his government post.
“He served the community well, and for many, many years,” retired public works director Clay Castleberry said Tuesday. He highlighted Rackerby’s post-retirement service, including volunteering for the Kelly Ridge Volunteer Fire Company and serving on the community board for Oroville Hospital.
Castleberry began working for the county at about the same time as Rackerby. They didn’t interact at first because they were in different departments, but they later became acquaintances and friends.
As personnel director, Rackerby helped Castleberry do his job better by providing personnel services including helping to recruit new or replacement employees.
“We miss him and he was a great person,” he said. “He was probably one of the best family friends that we have ever had.”
Castleberry retired in February 1984 after three decades of county service, the last 20 of those as public works director.
In 1988, Rackerby, Castleberry and the late Lynn VanHart, a retired environmental health director, founded the Butte County Old Timers, which held a luncheon every year for retired and former Butte County employees.
“He was proud as I to be a retiree for Butte County,” Castleberry said. “We served but were also treated well.”
Married for 64 years
Rackerby was born in Santa Rosa in January 1929, according to wife Ruth Ann. She said they were together 71 years, beginning in high school. After being sure they wanted to be together, they were married for 64 years.
“We were a good couple,” Ruth Ann Rackerby said. “We were different, but we meshed together.”
She said she misses her husband, who she described as a thoughtful person. He prepared breakfast for her every morning for 60 years, Ruth Ann Rackerby said.
For pastimes, James Rackerby hunted, fished and gardened. In high school, he ran hurdles and played right halfback on the football team. Small and fast, Rackerby also played semi-pro football for the Santa Rosa Bonecrushers and rugby for the Petaluma Leghorns.
The Rackerbys came to Butte County on vacation in 1957. James Rackerby was facing the loss of his job with the San Jose Health Department and saw an available position in Butte County.
The same day James Rackerby got the county job, Ruth Ann Rackerby was hired as a teacher at the old Bird Street School.
James Rackerby was originally an environmental sanitarian for the health department. He was eventually elected president of the employees union and then selected to be personnel director.
“They thought he could see both sides,” Ruth Ann Rackerby said.
She said her husband found his work interesting and he strove to see both sides of negotiations, although his later work was on behalf of administrations.
During his tenure at the county, he oversaw the local implementation of the federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, a now-defunct program that provided work to low-income or unemployed people.
After retiring from the county in 1986, James Rackerby led labor negotiations and offered personnel help to other counties and districts.
His cause of death wasn’t immediately known. After recently undergoing heart surgery and experiencing circulation problems, James Rackerby chose comfort care and died shortly thereafter.
Rackerby is survived by his wife, daughter Julie Merrill and son-in-law Maurice Merrill of Bayliss.
No services are planned at her husband’s request, Ruth Ann Rackerby said. Arrangements are being handled by the Chico branch of the Neptune Society of Northern California.
Reach reporter Ryan Olson at facebook.com/NorCalJustice and 896-7763.
