The local farming community lost one of its most dedicated pioneers with the death of James Jim Ervin Lentz.  He passed away Sunday, June 9, 2002, at Hospice House in Kennewick surrounded by his family, friends and compassionate Hospice nurses.  He was 87 years young.

Jim was born to Jake and Ocho Lentz in Alfalfa County on a farm south of Cherokee, Oklahoma on March 30, 1915.  He was a middle child with 4 brothers and 1 sister.  Jim graduated from Pawnee High School and junior college.  He met his future wife, Audna, while in college, and she was in high school.  To pay for college, Jim worked in a hometown café and a drycleaners.  After college, he was employed as a clerk in the Pawnee County Treasurer’s Office, where Audna also worked.  They married on June 29, 1940, in Pawnee and would have celebrated their 62nd year anniversary the end of this month.

Blessed with a strong work ethic from his father, Jake, and being raised on a farm, Jim continued to seek more challenging jobs.  He and Audna moved to Pryor, OK where Jim began working for DuPont and was transferred in 1944 to Richland, WA working then for General Electric.  In 1954, Jim purchased a 60-acre farm in Block 1 of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project and continued to work a full-time job at Hanford while starting to farm.  In the mid-seventies, he fulfilled his life-long dream and retired from Hanford to become a full-time farmer.  In 1977, Jim and Audna moved to their present farm home north of Pasco on 395 Highway.

Although farming was both a career and a hobby, Jim’s other love next to his family was Country-Western music.  He was truly an expert in this arena, reciting song writers as well as singers plus all the “nitty gritty” about their lives, when and how they died, etc.  He especially loved a Sunday morning radio program called “Legends of Country” on K.O.R.D. with Ed Dailey, disc jockey.  Because of this, he asked, prior to his death, that Ed Dailey preside over his funeral.

Jim was a beautiful person inside and out.  He was caring and compassionate and raised his daughters with love and kindness.  He instilled respect, empathy and always sharing whatever we had with others.  Jim “emotionally” adopted several sons and daughters who benefited from his love and also considered him their “Papa”.

Jim had a special quality:  he always had a kind word for or about every single person, including the ones shunned by others.  He wanted everyone to feel good about themselves and would find some positive in everyone.  He loved peaceful times and despised harsh or unkind words; there’s no place for meanness in this world!

He was a proud but kind man who loved most everyone, and they in turn loved him.  In Dr. Stanley Hale’s words the day before Dad died of cancer, “Jim, you are a ‘class act’ and it’s been a pleasure and an honor to be your doctor.  You are a ‘one and only’!”  Thank you God for loaning this wonderful father, husband and friend to us these 87 blessed years.  We will all miss you so much!

I Am Free Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I am following the path God laid for me. I took His hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, or play. Tasks undone must stay that way, I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, All these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with time of sorrow, I wish for you a great tomorrow. My life’s been full,, I savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one touched.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.

Jim is survived by his wife, Audna Lentz; daughters, Janet Taggares of Othello and Marcia Tom Crigler of Pasco; granddaughter, Joni Poole and great grandsons, Armand and Madison Poole, all of Seattle; brothers, Logan Lentz of Ames, OK and John Lentz of Pahrump, NV; brothers-in-law and wives, Ivan and Jane Custer of Boise, ID, Leonard G. and Judy Custer of Denver, CO, LeRoy and Barbara Custer of Boise, ID; sister-in-law, Secene Lentz of Pawnee, OK; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Ocho Lentz; sister, Winnifred Whitman; and brothers, Tom and Chet Lentz.

Open casket viewing will be held at Einan’s Funeral Home, 915 By-pass Highway, Richland on Thursday, June 13, 2002, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2002, at Einan’s with Ed Dailey – Legends of Country – KORD officiating.  A reception will follow the funeral at Meadow Springs Country Club, 700 Country Club Place, Richland, WA 99352 627-2234.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336.