It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Donald James. He went home to be with his Jesus on May 23, 2023. Don was born on June 14, 1937 in Clarksville, TN in a little house out in the country. He quit high school in his senior year to join the US Navy, where he served four years as an aircraft mechanic aboard many ships including the USS Midway on the West Pak cruise to the shores of Vietnam. After four years, he was out of the Navy for one month, but knew his heart was in the military. So Don joined the US Air Force, serving for 16 years as an x-ray technician/instructor before retiring. While in the Air Force he was stationed in many different countries and liked to share his many adventures. After retiring, he tried many times to re-enlist. He was a man who did not like to not finish what he started, so he finished his education with a PhD from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. While working as a Hospital Administrator he volunteered for 20 years with the Civil Air Patrol, which is an auxiliary of the US Air Force and ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve). He always liked to say he had worn a US Military uniform for 40 years and was very proud to do so.

Don is survived by his wife and best friend of 42 years, Lorrie Jurgens James of Deer Park, WA, his children Sherryl James Adam of Billings, MT, Michael James (Jennifer) of Butte, MT, Patrick James Keizer of Oregon and Christopher James (Stacie) of Puyallup, WA, as well as 11 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.