1932 to 2023
James Kenneth Long, of West Linn, Oregon, died peacefully in an assisted living facility/hospice in February 2023. He was 90 years old.
James was born on August 17, 1932 in San Pedro, California to James Marvin and Lydia Anna Long. Shortly after his birth, James (Jimmy) and Lydia moved to Orcas Island, WA. to live with Lydia’s mother while James Sr. was at sea pursuing a career in the US Navy. Raised on Orcas Island, he developed many childhood friends that would accompany him throughout his life. James was a member of the Letterman’s Club at Orcas Island High School and graduated in 1950.
After graduating, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served from 1950 to 1953 as an On-Board Radio Control Technician. During his ministry, his family and sister, Carole Ann Long, moved to Portland, OR. where he attended and graduated from Portland State University in 1957. It was here that he met his bride-to-be, Nola Carlette Lund, and married on October 4, 1957. James accepted a sales position at US Steel Corporation and relocated to San Francisco, California. in 1958. His peers nicknamed him “Hollywood” because of his elegant attire.
In 1960 the family moved back to Portland and James accepted a sales position at Pacific Machinery & Tool Steel. In its early years he was chairman of the Portland Jaycee Ski School, 1961 and 1962. While developing his career, he was elected chairman of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Chapter 63, for the state of Oregon. Throughout his career he took pride and responsibility in sales and sales management until his retirement in July 1998. He had a love for the steel industry and a passion for working with his clients in the Pacific Northwest.
In 2004, in retirement, he published Another Day in Paradise, a book about island memories from the 1930’s and 40’s on Orcas Island. As a young boy growing up around orcas, Jimmy had no wires or electricity. Water was brought inside from a hand-dug well. Bathing was done once a week in a tub with a galvanized bottom, reading and evening meals were carried out by kerosene lamps. In the early 1950’s, orcas were powered by the mainland, which is now OPALCO. Before that, diesel power plants supplied electricity.
Throughout his adult life James loved his wife and family, extended family, the outdoors, photography, skiing, hunting, fishing, woodwork and traveling to other parts of the world. He loved being a host family to many foreign exchange students at the college from 1970 to 1985 and was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels in Portland, Oregon.
James is survived by three children, James, Jonathan and Jennifer, six grandchildren, Jessica, Grace, Jonathan, Hope, Andrew and Olivia, and four great-grandchildren, Bella, Brooke, Carter and Harley.
A special thanks to all the assisted living and hospice care professionals, friends, family and his canine friends Paddy and Sunny for helping to extend his life to the fullest. His youthful character will surely be missed.
“I want to say to everyone, sit back, sit on the north shore of orcas in the evenings and just look at the water that stretches out to Sucia. Dig your toes in the pebbles on the beach and listen to the spirits like the ancient natives did. Let the wind caress your cheek. Just listen.” James K. Long, Still Waters, 2006
