Obituary of James M. Wilkinson

James M. Wilkinson, 61, died Saturday, April 3, 2021. He was the son of the late Ann F. Wilkinson and Louis D. Wilkinson. Jim attended St. John the Baptist School in Peabody and graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. A member of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 35, Jim worked as a painter and, after earning his B.S. and R.N. degrees from Salem State University, as a psychiatric nurse. Jim loved being outdoors, especially hiking in the woods and fishing at Devereux Beach. At home, he spent hours at a time playing his guitar, learning new songs and practicing old ones, looking forward to making music with friends on the weekend. Jim’s family and friends will especially miss his quick wit and perfect comic timing. He made us laugh even when laughter seemed impossible. Jim is survived by his sister Carol Wilkinson, of Salem; his sister Mary Mahoney and her husband Michael, of Topsfield; his nephew Patrick Mahoney and Patrick’s wife Amy, of Reading; his nephew Jonathan Mahoney and Jon’s wife Meghan Butler, of Beverly; his niece Julia Didelot and her husband Nick, of Stamford, Connecticut; his cousins Joanne Demers, of Middleton, and Mary Ann Rowen, of Salem; and his friend Tim Markham, of Peabody, who was like a brother to Jim. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, Peabody. Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to Northshore Recovery High School, 112 Sohier Road, Beverly, MA 01915.