James "Jim" Allan Cull

Jim fought a courageous battle with corticobasal degeneration and passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Friday, 13 March 2026, at the age of 67. Born on 30 August 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, to the late Raymond and Roberta Claire Cull, he began his working life as a Merchant Marine sailing the Great Lakes. He later retired from the City of Bay City Water Department, where he was affectionately known to many as “Vern.”

Family was the center of Jim’s world, especially his children and grandchildren. He shared a special birthday with his granddaughter Eva, a bond they both cherished. He loved traveling with his family, spending summers on Beaver Island, and later enjoying time at his cottage in Sterling. Though quiet by nature, those closest to him knew him as a compassionate and generous man.

Jim found joy in the outdoors and simple adventures. He was often seen riding his bicycle around town, and he loved golfing, camping, canoeing, and walking his property with his grandchildren. He took great pleasure in riding his Harley-Davidson, playing cribbage, and never missing his Monday night pool league with friends of more than forty years. In earlier years he made winter trips up north and taught his nieces and nephews to ski. He could never pass up a family game night, and schmier was one of his favorite card games.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Ann Cull; son James Erwin Cull and his partner Moisés; daughter Katherine Donaldson and her husband Trevor; grandchildren Levi, James, and Eva Donaldson; his siblings R. Dale Cull, R. Dennis Cull, Carly Bell, Bonnie Rice, Mary VanDenBosch, Julie Cherry, Peggy Bowersock, and John Cull; his mother-in-law Emma Jean Belfy; sisters-in-law Alice Belfy, Suzy Breden, and Kathleen Antkoviak; brother-in-law Mark Belfy; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Michael Cull, his nephew Vincent Rice, and his father-in-law Erwin Belfy.