Jim Lewis Mcwilliams

James (Jim) Louis McWilliams of Walla
Walla, passed away Aug. 28, 2016,
at Park Manor Nursing Home in Walla
Walla, at the age of 86. Jim was born in Palouse,
Wash., on Nov. 25, 1929, to Charles and Mary Ellen
Boyce McWilliams, the youngest of five children,
graduating from Palouse High School in 1947, making
him a big Cougar fan.
He met his wife of 66 years, Jean Gibbs while working
summers in Milton-Freewater in the pea and
wheat harvest. They were married on June 3, 1950,
in Coeur d’ Alene. Jim worked as a welder in the
shipyards in Bremerton, Wash., during the Korean
War, changing destroyer ships into aircraft carriers.
Their first child Debi, was born in Bremerton. They
soon tired of all the rain in Bremerton and decided
in 1952, to move back to Milton-Freewater. He was
employed for five years by Holsum Bread Company,
taking flour from the flour mill in Milton-Freewater
to the bakery in Lewiston, bringing back bread for
the delivery trucks in the area. Later he decided he
wanted to be his own boss, and built a machine and
welding shop repairing farm equipment, as well as
building new truck beds for new cab trucks for the
local car and truck dealers. After eight years he sold
the welding business and bought the local Western
Auto Store/McWilliams Family Store, and operated it
together with his wife. He hired his best friend Butch
Sloan to help them run the store. After 23 years he
decided to retire and move to Haines City, Fla. They
lived in Florida for 16 years. While there Jim loved
to golf and was out on the golf course every day. Jim
was eventually diagnosed with the beginning stages
of Alzheimer’s disease, to they returned to the Walla
Walla area where they could be closer to family.
Jim served on the Mac-Hi school board for eight
years, the Farm Labor Camp board for 15 years. He
was a member of Rotary for 31 years and volunteered
in numerous projects around Milton-Freewater, the
largest being the addition of 9 holes at the local golf
course. He loved watching and participating in all
kinds of sports.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; four children, Debi
Bacot, Mary Jo Fraser, Shari and (Don) Hanson, Jim
and (Claudette) McWilliams; seven grandchildren,
four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death
by his parents, Charles and Mary Ellen McWilliams;
his brothers, George and Leslie; sisters, Mary Adler
and Shirley Couey; one grandson, Justin Blankenship.
A memorial service is planned for Oct. 1, 2016, at
the First Christian Church in Milton-Freewater at 2
p.m. with Pastor Steve Lyons officiating. Contributions
may be made to the Alzheimer’s Research or the
First Christian Church of Milton-Freewater in Jim’s
memory.
Courtesy