Jim and I seemed to be joined at the hip, from our Freshmen year to our Senior year, at LSHS. He was always in every classroom, we attended. I remember Tom Cofer, with his smilling face, being with him before class. I will never forget the hit, Jim, put on me, during football practice. He will be missed by all, who knew Jim.
When we were in law school in Seattle in the early 1980's, I learned of Jim's where-a-bouts and we paid him a visit. Let me know if anyone wants to hear the story,
Jim and I were friends in high school. Both of us attended UMKC after graduation along with Don Macy, Dale Greer, Terry Miller (sophomore year) and others. Jim and I met periodically at the student center to discuss life's big questions. Neither of us had declared a major and we spent some time discussing our futures. Jim decided to take a different path. Knowing that he would be drafted when he decided not to further his education, he enlisted in the Navy. We exhanged several letters during his early years of service. In his last letter, he was counting down the days that his commitment to the Navy would end. Patrolling the coast of Vietnam in a small Naval boat was not to his liking. I'm sad to say we lost touch before his service years ended.
I have one lingering memory of Jim that has lasted for many years. He enjoyed art in high school and his college years. While visiting the student center at UMKC, I stopped to look at a display of artwork by other students, a dozen or more works of art. The display included a colorful drawing by Jim that featured an array of objects and characters, each depicted in detail, but on a very small scale. There must of been over 50 characters/objects presented in intricate detail and color. Many had a whimsical flair (i.e., Snoopy was shown flying through the air). I had to smile then and now when I think of Jim and his artwork.
I'm hopeful that Jim's piece of whimsical artwork found its way to the living room of one of his siblings or a niece or nephew where the memories of his life live on.
I believe that Jim and I started kindergarten together at Hazel Grove with Mrs. Duncan. He lived in Unity Village along 50 hiway. His mother was our Cub Scout pack Mom. He had cousins, Mike and Debbie Howard, that lived nearby. Jim and I were friends through high school and were team mates on the football team.
I don’t remember Jim at UMKC but I lived on campus one year and ran with those in the dorm.
Nancy and I moved to Seattle in the fall of 1980 for law school at the University of Washington. Our daughters were 3 and 5. At some point I heard that Jim was in state. We made it a weekend outing and went looking for him. Randle is a tiny farming and logging community on the Cowlitz River, between Mt. Rainier and Mt. St Helens and a couple of hours from Seattle. I remember stopping at the little general store, walking in and asking if they knew Jim. The lady didn’t hesitate in saying yes then answered questions about where he lived. Directions: out of town to the west on hiway 12, turn right about three miles out on a gravel road, park at the end of the road, climb the trail and look for someone. The road off 12 ran into the forest for a short distance then ended. The trail was crude and climbed steeply and steadily through huge old growth timber. We followed the directions and sure enough, we found him—and his significant other—and a little one. Their cabin was small and primitive but cozy, tucked snugly into the steep timbered hillside. Jim and his wife had built it. They had projects under way and plans for more, including a hot tub. The trail was the only access so any and all construction supplies had been lugged up the trail. They had piped water from a stream, gravity flow to near the cabin, which was their only convenience. There was no power and a wood stove was the only source of heat. The baby was just months old and bundled against the cool and damp of western Washington. After introductions all around, Jim and I talked about his adventures since the Navy. Jim may have had a commitment because we followed trails to a couple of other cabins on trails. One was very involved with stone work and extensive passive solar.
To this day I don’t know of the ownership of what we saw. The ridge where the cabins were located is a major ridge above the river. The cabins were maybe a third of the way up the ridge. From the ridge, both Rainier and St Helens are probably visible. St. Helens, which erupted in May 1980, would be visible from Jim’s cabin but for the timber. I suspect the ridge is timber company holdings. All we saw may have been squatters. Nothing would be visible from the air because of the big timber. Lewis county doesn’t have records on line that enable searching for answers. I wonder what is on the hillside now?
The little one would be about 30 years old now….
I don’t know when Jim passed away. I have searched without success. He had a brother that is class of ’68 and a sister that was maybe two years ahead of us. Someone living in town might locate the brother.
A lot of unanswered questions. Jim admitted to some drug history and problems but he seemed happy with his little family and his hillside neighbors.
Terry Miller reminded me of an encounter, with Jim, about art. In art class, we were challenged to make a sculpture from a block of plaster, made in a milk carton. Well, after carving, sanding, I made a moller, suspended by 1 root, atop the base. Jim commented, "interesting". Imagination, is what Jim had, in life. I feel he used it to the fullest.
David Barnes
Jim was a good friend of mine. I remember he always called me Barney. One time Steve Dale asked if
I minded being called Barney I said no because Jim was my friend. We spent many summer days playing
basketball on his driveway and shooting fireworks together on the 4th. I would have lunch and dinner with
him and his family. What a great family he had, three sisters and a brother. One summer we were on the
same baseball team. Tom Cofer and Danny Strausbaugh were on the team also. We had a lot of fun that
summer.
I was a big Beatle fan back then and Jim was always making me aware of new artists. I remember
sitting in his living room listening to the Simon & Garfunkel album Bookends for the first time. Other
artists he made me aware of were Blood Sweat & Tears, Cream and Iron Butterfly. One night our senior
year he came knocking on my door all excited wanting me to go to a concert to hear a new guy sing.
I finally agreed to go and off we went. That new guy was Jimi Hendrix. What a great concert that was!
After graduation we went our separate ways, like a lot of high school friends do. Jim joined the Navy
and I went to college. I never saw my good friend again.
Dave Barnes (Barney)
Mike Hillyard
Jim and I seemed to be joined at the hip, from our Freshmen year to our Senior year, at LSHS. He was always in every classroom, we attended. I remember Tom Cofer, with his smilling face, being with him before class. I will never forget the hit, Jim, put on me, during football practice. He will be missed by all, who knew Jim.
Terry Miller
When we were in law school in Seattle in the early 1980's, I learned of Jim's where-a-bouts and we paid him a visit. Let me know if anyone wants to hear the story,
Terry
Wayne Smith
Jim and I were friends in high school. Both of us attended UMKC after graduation along with Don Macy, Dale Greer, Terry Miller (sophomore year) and others. Jim and I met periodically at the student center to discuss life's big questions. Neither of us had declared a major and we spent some time discussing our futures. Jim decided to take a different path. Knowing that he would be drafted when he decided not to further his education, he enlisted in the Navy. We exhanged several letters during his early years of service. In his last letter, he was counting down the days that his commitment to the Navy would end. Patrolling the coast of Vietnam in a small Naval boat was not to his liking. I'm sad to say we lost touch before his service years ended.
I have one lingering memory of Jim that has lasted for many years. He enjoyed art in high school and his college years. While visiting the student center at UMKC, I stopped to look at a display of artwork by other students, a dozen or more works of art. The display included a colorful drawing by Jim that featured an array of objects and characters, each depicted in detail, but on a very small scale. There must of been over 50 characters/objects presented in intricate detail and color. Many had a whimsical flair (i.e., Snoopy was shown flying through the air). I had to smile then and now when I think of Jim and his artwork.
I'm hopeful that Jim's piece of whimsical artwork found its way to the living room of one of his siblings or a niece or nephew where the memories of his life live on.
Best wished to the class of '67.
Wayne Smith
Terry Miller
I believe that Jim and I started kindergarten together at Hazel Grove with Mrs. Duncan. He lived in Unity Village along 50 hiway. His mother was our Cub Scout pack Mom. He had cousins, Mike and Debbie Howard, that lived nearby. Jim and I were friends through high school and were team mates on the football team.
I don’t remember Jim at UMKC but I lived on campus one year and ran with those in the dorm.
Nancy and I moved to Seattle in the fall of 1980 for law school at the University of Washington. Our daughters were 3 and 5. At some point I heard that Jim was in state. We made it a weekend outing and went looking for him. Randle is a tiny farming and logging community on the Cowlitz River, between Mt. Rainier and Mt. St Helens and a couple of hours from Seattle. I remember stopping at the little general store, walking in and asking if they knew Jim. The lady didn’t hesitate in saying yes then answered questions about where he lived. Directions: out of town to the west on hiway 12, turn right about three miles out on a gravel road, park at the end of the road, climb the trail and look for someone. The road off 12 ran into the forest for a short distance then ended. The trail was crude and climbed steeply and steadily through huge old growth timber. We followed the directions and sure enough, we found him—and his significant other—and a little one. Their cabin was small and primitive but cozy, tucked snugly into the steep timbered hillside. Jim and his wife had built it. They had projects under way and plans for more, including a hot tub. The trail was the only access so any and all construction supplies had been lugged up the trail. They had piped water from a stream, gravity flow to near the cabin, which was their only convenience. There was no power and a wood stove was the only source of heat. The baby was just months old and bundled against the cool and damp of western Washington. After introductions all around, Jim and I talked about his adventures since the Navy. Jim may have had a commitment because we followed trails to a couple of other cabins on trails. One was very involved with stone work and extensive passive solar.
To this day I don’t know of the ownership of what we saw. The ridge where the cabins were located is a major ridge above the river. The cabins were maybe a third of the way up the ridge. From the ridge, both Rainier and St Helens are probably visible. St. Helens, which erupted in May 1980, would be visible from Jim’s cabin but for the timber. I suspect the ridge is timber company holdings. All we saw may have been squatters. Nothing would be visible from the air because of the big timber. Lewis county doesn’t have records on line that enable searching for answers. I wonder what is on the hillside now?
The little one would be about 30 years old now….
I don’t know when Jim passed away. I have searched without success. He had a brother that is class of ’68 and a sister that was maybe two years ahead of us. Someone living in town might locate the brother.
A lot of unanswered questions. Jim admitted to some drug history and problems but he seemed happy with his little family and his hillside neighbors.
Mike Hillyard
Terry Miller reminded me of an encounter, with Jim, about art. In art class, we were challenged to make a sculpture from a block of plaster, made in a milk carton. Well, after carving, sanding, I made a moller, suspended by 1 root, atop the base. Jim commented, "interesting". Imagination, is what Jim had, in life. I feel he used it to the fullest.