Jim was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on March 2, 1957 to Nelda and Jack Farrar. Jim's mother, Nelda (Wagner) Farrar, was the granddaughter of German immigrants who had originally settled and farmed in Woodford County, Illinois. Her family came to Idaho in the 1930s. She and Jack were high school sweethearts and married soon after she graduated from Albion State Normal School.

Jim's father was a farmer, local radio personality, and commander of the Idaho wing of the Civil Air Patrol. His family came to Idaho from Missouri in the teens to farm on the Salmon Tract. Jim's paternal line traces back to William Farrar of Jamestown and founder of the Farrar's Island plantation.

Jim’s father died suddenly of a heart attack when he was just four years old. A year later Nelda married Paul Poindexter, a talented salesman who became a devoted step-father to the two boys.

Although he had few memories of his dad, Jim had inherited his father's quick wit and dark sense of humor and was sometimes even known as "Little Jack." Like his mother, Jim was a born bibliophile. He taught himself to read at the age four and insisted on reading his bed time stories to his parents. In the second grade he read a five book series on the history of World War II.

Jim was also a good athlete and for many years pitched for the Little League team sponsored by his step-father's company ITEX. He also inherited the Farrar musical talent and, at the age of nine, took first place at the Idaho State Accordian Festival - an honor he never lived down.

Jim attended Twin Falls High School where he became interested in journalism and debate. He wrote movie reviews for the school newspaper and in 1973 took first prize as Best Novice Debater at the Idaho State Debate Tournament.

After high school he attended Boise State University, but dropped out after a few years to focus on his writing. He wrote several plays and many short stories while working as a buyer for Smith's Food King.

On January 9, 1982 he met Kate McCarter through a mutual friend. They quickly became good friends sharing an interest in writing, books, and politics. Jim and Kate were married on September 1, 1985 in Boise. After they were married, Jim returned to BSU to finish his degree in English.

In 1987 he had two short stories, A Man Dropped His Hat and The Snow published in the department's award winning literary magazine, cold-drill. He also had the satisfaction of seeing one of his plays produced in a joint project with the English and Theater Arts departments. He graduated in December of 1987. That following spring they moved to Portland, Oregon for the better job market and more liberal political climate.

Although Jim had originally planned on becoming a teacher, that fall he took a job with DeAndrea and Associates and became a contract technical writer. He worked there for four years and said it was the best job he ever had. After the company moved to California, he took a tech writing position at ADP Dealer Services. He had worked there for 13 years at the time of his death and had developed close friendships with many of his co-workers.

Jim was a homebody who loved cooking, reading, writing, movies, music, playing his guitars, and spoiling his pets. At the time of his death, he was working on two screenplays, several short stories, and a song.

Jim battled Burkitt's lymphoma for nine months cared for by his wife, Kate, sister-in-law, Joan, and mother-in-law, Mercedes. He died at his home in Portland, Oregon on May 25, 2006 at 5:20 p.m. with his family by his side.

Jim's step-father, Paul, died February 2, 2007 in Twin Falls, Idaho and his mother, Nelda, on April 10, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona.