James Amador Peña, 74, of Eureka, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 7, 2026. James was born on July 22, 1951, in Edna, Texas, to Virginia and Amador Peña.

As a young boy, his mother, Virginia Young, and stepfather, Al Young, moved him to Ukiah, where he later graduated from Ukiah High School. After high school, he joined the United States Navy, serving as an ordnance mechanic.

Following his service, he attended Chico State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He went on to work as an accountant in Oakland. Eventually, seeking a quieter life outside the city, he began a long career with Caltrans, where he worked his way up from surveyor to transportation engineer.

He is survived by his two children, Spencer Peña and Tyler Peña.

Jim loved adventure and was always traveling to new and exciting places. He enjoyed scuba diving and camping, often camping year-round. He was also very involved in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, dedicating much of his time to supporting those programs.

In his younger years, he enjoyed running and cycling and was an active member of the Six Rivers Running Club. He even completed the Tour of the Unknown Coast. In his later years, he devoted much of his time to volunteering and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

A memorial service will be held at the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department on May 23 at 1 p.m.

“May the roads rise to meet him, and the winds be always at his back.