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06/26/2008: "James Leon Desermeaux"

Jim was born in Seattle on September 3rd 1932. He died at home on June 18th 2008. Jim started his life on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle and lived there until he joined the Air Force at the age of 17. He was stationed in the Bahamas during the Korean War, taking photos of guided missile. After he left the Air Force he raced his MG at Daytona Beach in mini stock races. He attended the University of Arizona for engineering. He returned to Seattle in 1960 to work at Boeing and continue work on his degree at the University of Washington.

In 1961 he met Mary Jane Fleming from Friday Harbor, who was in school with Jim at UW and also worked at Boeing. They married in 1963 then they moved to Friday Harbor in 1966 to raise their three children. Jim was a contractor and a pilot. He loved his Stinson. He later remarried to Raelyn Blake from Lopez.

Jim was concerned for the future of the San Juan Islands, so he ran for County Assessor. Jim won the election and was a public servant for four years. He also ran for State Representative and County Commissioner.

He had many different occupations over his lifetime. He raised cattle. He had a cabinet shop, the Corner Store. He grew fields of daffodils and gave them to people at the nursing home. He raised sheep and worked his dogs. His dog Matty was his best friend. Many people may have known him as Santa Claus. He helped the Food Bank, the Historical Museum, and other local organizations.

Jim had three children, Shawn, Jim, and Christy, and five grandchildren, Angela, Tasha, Kayla, Rocky, and Julia.

Memorials may be sent to Skagit Hospice. Huston Taylor and Ingrid Bower from Skagit Hospice and a caregiver team helped Jim immensely in the last days of his life, so he could stay at home:

Skagit Hospice Foundation P.O. Box 1376 Mount Vernon, WA. 98273

Graveside Services will be held Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Valley Cemetery on San Juan Island.