James (Jim) Harrin passed away on November 22, 2002 in Park Ridge Hospital of Fletcher, NC. Jim was widely known in North Carolina circles as a successful businessman and entrepreneur who courageously served his country during WWII with the United States Navy in the South Pacific. After the war Jim returned to Asheville and married Catherine Hensley who was the love of his life. Together they started a family and after working as a trimmer himself Jim started his own trim shop and wrecker service. Jim and Catherine owned and successfully operated Harrins' Sand Company of Asheville, Harrins' Trim Shop of Asheville for many years and repurchased and operated the only NASCAR sanctioned short track in Asheville which Jim had helped found. That cultural icon was known as the Asheville, Motor Speedway (AMS). The AMS was originally created by an ownership group consisting of Jim Harrin, Harry Clay, Max Wilson and Bob Furey and built upon the same tract of land that was once known as Carrier Field, a small airport. The Asheville Motor speedway was sold upon Jim's retirement and after several years of operation the AMS was acquired by the city of Asheville, NC in the late 1990's. Although this piece of North Carolina history no longer exists the tract of land the AMS once sat upon is now known as Carrier Park which is a popular public recreational park owned, operated and maintained by the City of Asheville, NC.

Surviving Jim are immediate family members consisting of his daughter Alice (Idella) Harrin Higgenbottom and husband Fred of Alexandria, Minnesota, his daughter Peggy Ann Harrin Trexler of Kingsport, Tennessee and four grandchildren that he absolutely adored. His surviving grandchildren are Wesley Higgenbottom of Elkhart, Indiana, Cathy Higgenbottom Davidson of Las Cruces, NM, Jay Trexler of Kingsport, Tennessee and Sam Trexler of Kingsport, Tennessee.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home of Enka, North Carolina was in charge of funeral arrangements and a graveside service was conducted by Jim's nephew the Rev. Clarence Taylor. Interment followed in the chapel mausoleum of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Enka, NC. Jim was buried with full military honors and laid to rest beside his beloved wife Catherine Hensley Harrin who preceded him in death.