Obituary
Halfway, 1920-2013

James Lisle, 92, of Halfway, died on March 15, 2013 in Bend.

A celebration of Jim and his wife Mamie's (who died in 2011) lives will be held at a memorial graveside service with military honors on Friday, March 29 at 1 p.m. at the Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held at the VFW Hall in Halfway immediately following the service.

James Andrew Lisle was born on June 19, 1920, to Frank and Anna (Thon) Lisle at home, on a sheep ranch across the Snake River from Bliss, Idaho. He was the 9th of 10 children. Jim was raised in many places, including Sandpoint, Idaho, Turlock, Calif., and Naches, Wash. He graduated form Naches High School in 1939.

Jim joined the Army on Jan. 3, 1942, to do his part in World War II. He was in the 701st Armored Battalion, in a tank. Jim saw action in Germany, France, Belgium and Czechoslovakia. He received a Bronze Star for a battle in Hottorf, Germany. One of Jim's most memorable moments was on Nov. 6, 1945, when he voted for the first time in an apple orchard in France.

After service in World War II, Jim joined the Idaho National Guard. In 1952 his unit was deployed to Korea. He flew to Korea in a four-engine propeller plane. Jim served as a First Lieutenant in the 148th Artillery Unit. He stayed on with the National Guard and retired as a captain in 1962. Then he re-enlisted in 1970 and joined his son in a National Guard unit once again. He finally retired from the service in 1976.

Jim married Mamie Alice Hanna in Moscow, Idaho, in 1946. They had one son, Douglas, in 1949. During his life with Mamie, they lived in more than 27 different houses and had 31 different cars. They lived several years in Othello, Wash., and Moses Lake, Wash., before moving to Halfway in 1991. They loved Halfway. Jim enjoyed golfing, boating, and trading cars. Jim and Mamie loved to travel in their RV and visited most of the United States. Jim was a member of Halfway VFW Post 7847.

Outside of the Army, Jim was in the petroleum industry. He started out by driving delivery trucks, then bought his own bulk plant. Later he became a successful salesman for Phillips 66.

Jim is survived by his son, Douglas "Sparky" Lisle and his wife, Polly, of Camp Sherman, Ore.; two grandsons, Thon and his wife, Stephanie Lisle, of Ketchikan, Alaska, and Erik and his wife, Stephanie, of Minot, N.D.; four great-grandchildren; his brother, Robert of Auburn, Wash.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mamie, in 2011; his brothers, Paul, Don, Charles and Clifford; and his sisters, Mae, Ruth, Nell, and Dolly.

Donations in memory of Jim may be made to the Pine-Eagle Youth Fund through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.