Jim Killgore, 93, passed away at St. Mary's Hospital in Cottonwood on Wednesday morning, March 31, 2011. Jim was born Sept. 19, 1917, on his dad's farm along the Salmon River across from the mouth of White Bird Creek. The house he was born in was only about 100 yards from the current house on the farm, so he liked to jokingly tell people that "he did not get very far in life." His father, William P. Killgore, came west as a child from Missouri on the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon. His mother, Bertha Frieze, was born in Washington state.
In the early '40s, he went to Portland, Ore., to help with the war effort during World War II. He worked in the shipyards as a welder. He first went to welding school at the shipyard, where he "tested out" early. Before the course was over he asked to take the hands-on end-of-course test and was told by the instructor, "Yeah, you can take the test but you won't pass." He took the test and passed with flying colors; turns out he had a natural ability for welding. He was an excellent welder. In the '50s and '60s, loggers would bring their trucks from miles around for any welding they may have needed. They would often tell others something like "If you want to have it welded only once, take it to Jim Killgore." For those who do not know, a poor weld will often crack or break and need to be redone. He enjoyed helping others with his welding ability.
After his time welding on Liberty ships for the war effort, he returned home to work on the farm.
Jim met and married Josephine Harvey in 1945. She had come to the nearby Doumecq Plains to stay with Ernest and Evelyn Wells, while teaching at the local school. They met at a schoolhouse dance. They were married in Dayton, Wash., and lived together on the farm for some 65 years. Jo has been Jim's capable longtime partner all of these years.
Like many farmers, especially those who ran small operations, he had outside jobs in the early years to help pay the bills and keep the farm and growing family going. For example, he worked as a mechanic and welder for the following: in Grangeville for Brown Motors, in the woods for Lew Walker, and he worked at the White Bird sawmill, night shift, so he could work the family farm and orchard during the day. The orchard business grew and grew, thanks to all of the hard work and loyal customers. He tried his best to conduct the business with the idea that "a satisfied customer is your greatest asset."
He enjoyed producing food for others, hard work and good friends.
Jim is resting now and surviving him are his wife, Josephine; their six children, Keith, Les, Carl, Steve, Bill and Camille; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blackmer's Funeral Home in Grangeville. Officiating is Harold Gott from the Grangeville Christian Church. A graveside service will follow at about noon at the White Bird cemetery. Everyone is invited after the service to the White Bird IOOF Hall for a reception.
The family suggests contributions in his name to the Shriners Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99201.
Condolences can be sent to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.
Lewiston Tribune 04.06.2011
In the early '40s, he went to Portland, Ore., to help with the war effort during World War II. He worked in the shipyards as a welder. He first went to welding school at the shipyard, where he "tested out" early. Before the course was over he asked to take the hands-on end-of-course test and was told by the instructor, "Yeah, you can take the test but you won't pass." He took the test and passed with flying colors; turns out he had a natural ability for welding. He was an excellent welder. In the '50s and '60s, loggers would bring their trucks from miles around for any welding they may have needed. They would often tell others something like "If you want to have it welded only once, take it to Jim Killgore." For those who do not know, a poor weld will often crack or break and need to be redone. He enjoyed helping others with his welding ability.
After his time welding on Liberty ships for the war effort, he returned home to work on the farm.
Jim met and married Josephine Harvey in 1945. She had come to the nearby Doumecq Plains to stay with Ernest and Evelyn Wells, while teaching at the local school. They met at a schoolhouse dance. They were married in Dayton, Wash., and lived together on the farm for some 65 years. Jo has been Jim's capable longtime partner all of these years.
Like many farmers, especially those who ran small operations, he had outside jobs in the early years to help pay the bills and keep the farm and growing family going. For example, he worked as a mechanic and welder for the following: in Grangeville for Brown Motors, in the woods for Lew Walker, and he worked at the White Bird sawmill, night shift, so he could work the family farm and orchard during the day. The orchard business grew and grew, thanks to all of the hard work and loyal customers. He tried his best to conduct the business with the idea that "a satisfied customer is your greatest asset."
He enjoyed producing food for others, hard work and good friends.
Jim is resting now and surviving him are his wife, Josephine; their six children, Keith, Les, Carl, Steve, Bill and Camille; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blackmer's Funeral Home in Grangeville. Officiating is Harold Gott from the Grangeville Christian Church. A graveside service will follow at about noon at the White Bird cemetery. Everyone is invited after the service to the White Bird IOOF Hall for a reception.
The family suggests contributions in his name to the Shriners Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99201.
Condolences can be sent to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.
Lewiston Tribune 04.06.2011
Jim Killgore, 93, passed away at St. Mary's Hospital in Cottonwood on Wednesday morning, March 31, 2011. Jim was born Sept. 19, 1917, on his dad's farm along the Salmon River across from the mouth of White Bird Creek. The house he was born in was only about 100 yards from the current house on the farm, so he liked to jokingly tell people that "he did not get very far in life." His father, William P. Killgore, came west as a child from Missouri on the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon. His mother, Bertha Frieze, was born in Washington state.
In the early '40s, he went to Portland, Ore., to help with the war effort during World War II. He worked in the shipyards as a welder. He first went to welding school at the shipyard, where he "tested out" early. Before the course was over he asked to take the hands-on end-of-course test and was told by the instructor, "Yeah, you can take the test but you won't pass." He took the test and passed with flying colors; turns out he had a natural ability for welding. He was an excellent welder. In the '50s and '60s, loggers would bring their trucks from miles around for any welding they may have needed. They would often tell others something like "If you want to have it welded only once, take it to Jim Killgore." For those who do not know, a poor weld will often crack or break and need to be redone. He enjoyed helping others with his welding ability.
After his time welding on Liberty ships for the war effort, he returned home to work on the farm.
Jim met and married Josephine Harvey in 1945. She had come to the nearby Doumecq Plains to stay with Ernest and Evelyn Wells, while teaching at the local school. They met at a schoolhouse dance. They were married in Dayton, Wash., and lived together on the farm for some 65 years. Jo has been Jim's capable longtime partner all of these years.
Like many farmers, especially those who ran small operations, he had outside jobs in the early years to help pay the bills and keep the farm and growing family going. For example, he worked as a mechanic and welder for the following: in Grangeville for Brown Motors, in the woods for Lew Walker, and he worked at the White Bird sawmill, night shift, so he could work the family farm and orchard during the day. The orchard business grew and grew, thanks to all of the hard work and loyal customers. He tried his best to conduct the business with the idea that "a satisfied customer is your greatest asset."
He enjoyed producing food for others, hard work and good friends.
Jim is resting now and surviving him are his wife, Josephine; their six children, Keith, Les, Carl, Steve, Bill and Camille; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blackmer's Funeral Home in Grangeville. Officiating is Harold Gott from the Grangeville Christian Church. A graveside service will follow at about noon at the White Bird cemetery. Everyone is invited after the service to the White Bird IOOF Hall for a reception.
The family suggests contributions in his name to the Shriners Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99201.
Condolences can be sent to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.
Lewiston Tribune 04.06.2011
In the early '40s, he went to Portland, Ore., to help with the war effort during World War II. He worked in the shipyards as a welder. He first went to welding school at the shipyard, where he "tested out" early. Before the course was over he asked to take the hands-on end-of-course test and was told by the instructor, "Yeah, you can take the test but you won't pass." He took the test and passed with flying colors; turns out he had a natural ability for welding. He was an excellent welder. In the '50s and '60s, loggers would bring their trucks from miles around for any welding they may have needed. They would often tell others something like "If you want to have it welded only once, take it to Jim Killgore." For those who do not know, a poor weld will often crack or break and need to be redone. He enjoyed helping others with his welding ability.
After his time welding on Liberty ships for the war effort, he returned home to work on the farm.
Jim met and married Josephine Harvey in 1945. She had come to the nearby Doumecq Plains to stay with Ernest and Evelyn Wells, while teaching at the local school. They met at a schoolhouse dance. They were married in Dayton, Wash., and lived together on the farm for some 65 years. Jo has been Jim's capable longtime partner all of these years.
Like many farmers, especially those who ran small operations, he had outside jobs in the early years to help pay the bills and keep the farm and growing family going. For example, he worked as a mechanic and welder for the following: in Grangeville for Brown Motors, in the woods for Lew Walker, and he worked at the White Bird sawmill, night shift, so he could work the family farm and orchard during the day. The orchard business grew and grew, thanks to all of the hard work and loyal customers. He tried his best to conduct the business with the idea that "a satisfied customer is your greatest asset."
He enjoyed producing food for others, hard work and good friends.
Jim is resting now and surviving him are his wife, Josephine; their six children, Keith, Les, Carl, Steve, Bill and Camille; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blackmer's Funeral Home in Grangeville. Officiating is Harold Gott from the Grangeville Christian Church. A graveside service will follow at about noon at the White Bird cemetery. Everyone is invited after the service to the White Bird IOOF Hall for a reception.
The family suggests contributions in his name to the Shriners Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99201.
Condolences can be sent to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.
Lewiston Tribune 04.06.2011
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