Our beloved Jimbo left this earth Sunday, November 12, 2006 after a prolonged battle with leukemia. His peaceful passing occurred at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., with his family at his bedside.

Born in Las Vegas, Nev., September 16, 1952, Jimmy attended grade school in Boulder City, Nev., before moving with his family to Buckeye, Ariz., where he was a football star at Buckeye High. Jim continued his football career at Northern Arizona University and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences from DeVry University.

Jim began his career in the field of nuclear safety at the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Arizona. He eventually settled his family in Benton City, Wash., in 1992 when he began work as a Health Physics Technician at the Hanford site clean-up project.

A multi-talented jack of all trades, Jim never met a project he couldn’t tackle and loved to add new skills to his broad repertoire of woodworking, home remolding, crafting, toy making and construction, among others.

Jim was an avid fisherman and realized his dream of owning his own boat, “Sweet Dreams,” which he put to good use at his favorite fishing holes on the Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers. Jim loved to laugh and was passionate about football, barbequing, toy collecting, juggling, unicycle riding and celebrating birthdays and holidays where he specialized in dangerous firework displays on the 4th of July.

Jim was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and found great joy serving as a scout master, elder’s quorum president, ward mission leader, home teacher and bishopric member during his 27-year membership.

A devoted husband, father, grandpa, son and brother, Jim prized his family above all things and knew what it was to love and to be loved. He is survived by the love of his life and eternal companion, wife Rejeania, daughter Rachel of Pullman, Wash., son Shane and his wife Polly of Pasco, Wash., and his two adorable grandchildren Delaney Laney Shea and Declan James.

Jimmy is also survived by his parents Jim and Marilyn of Glendale, Ariz., sister Cathy and Alan Calvert of Buckeye, Ariz., brother Paul and Chris of Phoenix, Ariz., brother Ken and Dorothy of Goodyear, Ariz., and sister Cindy of Phoenix, Ariz., along with one niece, four nephews and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jim was adored by his extended family, mother-in-law Erma Conley of Benton City, Wash., sister-in-law Rita Allison of Benton City, Wash., brother-in-law Richard Conley and Susan of Dayton, Ohio, and sister-in-law Veronica and her husband Dale Knoche, Jim’s favorite fishing buddy, of Asotin, Wash., along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jim fought a long, hard battle with his illness and received an overwhelming out-pouring of support from friends, church members, and especially his co-workers at the Hanford’s LPCS – He never gave up!

Thank you, Jimbo, for 54 years of laughter, love and precious memories.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, November 17, 2006 at the Benton City LDS Chapel, 1101 Fay Ave., Benton City. Visitation will be 11:30-12:30 at the church prior to the service. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, also in Benton City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, 7325 W. Deschutes, Kennewick, WA 99336.