LITTLETON, N.H. -- The North Country lost a familiar voice this week with the death of radio newsman Jim Clothey.

In his 15 years with the Littleton radio station WLTN, Clothey was a fixture both in his on-air morning news broadcasts and in his live coverage of town meetings and other local events, where he would perch just behind the action and relay the news as it unfolded.

"He kind of learned to paint the picture with words," Clothey's wife, Terri, said Friday afternoon. "He really knew what news was. It was sacred to him ... It was not just a job."

Clothey died at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster Wednesday around midnight after a year of deteriorating health, Terri said.

With a deep voice and quick wit, Clothey took to broadcast work relatively early in his life. His first public appearance, Terri said, was as a bingo caller at the Caledonia County Fair, a job his grandmother set up.

Clothey was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., 60 years ago and grew up in South Burlington, Vt. He learned his trade at Cambridge Broadcasting School in Massachusetts, Terri said. Early in his radio career he worked for stations in Burlington and Montpelier, Vt.

But much of his life has been spent in the North Country of New Hampshire, as a resident of Whitefield and a radio personality for various stations.

For many years he combined his love of radio and his interest in car racing as the announcer at the Riverside Speedway in Groveton. He also worked at WLGW in Lancaster before becoming WLTN's news director in 1991.

"He's an icon in the community," said WLTN owner Barry Lunderville. "He'll be dearly missed ... It was a lot of fun to work with him."

Phil Rivera, who has worked with Clothey at WLTN for the past three years, referred to Clothey as "a beautiful, gentle man" who was at times opinionated and was not afraid to speak his mind. But Rivera noted that Clothey also kept his personal views out of his news broadcasts.

"Jim was a good friend to many. People trusted him," Rivera said. "I think people will miss him walking along Main Street .... It's definitely going to be empty at WLTN. He was WLTN."

Littleton Town Manager Jason Hoch, who started his tenure in town just down the hall from WLTN as the Littleton Main Street director, said he shared many great conversations with Clothey both on and off the air.

"Jim's a smart, funny guy," said Hoch, who was a regular guest on Clothey's Friday morning "Issues and Answers" program.

He credited Clothey with asking questions aimed at presenting relevant information to listeners, without trying to "play Ôgotcha'" with speakers. Hoch also recalled numerous town meetings where Clothey reported from just beyond the main action.

"It was always kind of a fun juxtaposition to be watching the meeting and participating in the meeting at the podium, and behind you hearing play-by-play from Jim about what you'd just done," he said.

Clothey left WTLN briefly in the late 1990s to help Terri set up their business - A Different Path - on Main Street in Littleton. The store sells a variety of Native American products, reaching to Terri's Eastern Abenaki heritage.

The couple has also long been involved in the native Abenaki community in northern New England and enjoyed participating in re-enactments of the French and Indian War until about a year ago, after Terri was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and Jim's health also started to decline.

"We enjoyed it. We made so many wonderful friends," Terri said. "I've always been a big history fan and so has Jim. What we'd try to do is bring history to life."

Jim was especially proud of the native name bestowed on him: "Six Fingers," referring to the five fingers of his left hand and the stub of his right arm. Born with only one developed arm, Clothey was an avid hunter and angler.

He also had a theatrical vein that made re-enactments even more fun, Terri said.

"He had a great imagination," she said.

Terri is working with the Pillsbury Funeral Home on plans for Jim's memorial service, although specific details were not yet set Friday afternoon.

"It's going to be a day to honor his life and to celebrate it," she said.