July 24, 1937 – July 2, 2013
James “Jim” Bertram Walker passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2013,peacefully with family around him from an eight-year-plus battle of Lewy Body Dementia which is second in the world to Alzheimer’s.
Jim was born in Sweet Home at the home of David Francis and Mary Elizabeth Schermesser Walker.
The last of seven children, Jim graduated Sweet Home Union High School in 1955.
Jim and his wife of 56 years, LouVee, lived in the home he was born in for 51 years. They then built a new home in the back yard five years ago. Jim worked part time in the high school doing various jobs, field work in strawberries, cherries, and beans, filling station and mill work.
When Jim and LouVee married he was a logger for several different companies. In December 1959 Jim went to work for Willamette Industries at the Sweet Home Plywood Division, until it closed in 1994 at the age of 57. He retired at that time.
Jim is survived by his loving wife and caregiver LouVee Davenport Walker, sons Steven Dale and Calwon Lee, granddaughter Kelsey Lee Walker; daughter Kathleen Marie Walker Varbel and Patrick C. Varbel; son Michael Alan Walker; ex-wife Connie R. Pierce, step-grandson Sean M. Pierce and Coco, their children Tucker and Kayley, granddaughter Amber Dawn Walker; ex-wife Michele Godown Allen, stepgranddaughter Ashley Nicole Godown and her girls CourtneyAnn Newens and Bailey Newens; grandson Caleb Michael Walker; two young grandsons, Clayton Daniel James Walker and Alan Lee Walker; their mother Amanda Kilpatrick; two sisters, Iris Graham of Lebanon and Ruth Kyriss of Mt. Vernon, Ore .; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends and lifelong friend Gary Linkel.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers; Eldon W. Walker, Eugene, Willis V. Walker Missouri, Harold L. Walker, Salem and Wilber Ray Walker, Lebanon.
There will be a Celebration of Life on July 13, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at his home.
Contributions may be made in his name at http://www.lbda.org. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.