James "Jim" Leroy Pake

James was born on June 24, 1930 in Argonia, Kansas. Son of the late Ralph and Geneva Crites Pake. He passed away on May 4, 2020 in Issaquah Washington, he was 89 years old.

He attended Southwestern College where he met his future bride, Julia Ann Black, whom he married on October 15, 1950. In track he set the record in pole vault, he sang in the choir, and was a member of Pi Sigma Phi (honorary athletic fraternity) and Pi Sigma Gamma (a science club). He graduated in 1953 in pre-dentistry then attended the University of Arkansas for post grad work. He also played semi-pro baseball with Pat Summerall in the Class C Sooner State League*.

He joined the Masons in 1957 and was a Mason in good standing for 62 years until his passing. He was also an active member of the Shriners until 1994.

Jim worked at Boeing for 42 years being involved in the startup programs for the B-47, B-52, 747 & 777. One of his positions with Boeing was with the Material Technical Interface Group where he traveled to China, Japan, Italy, England, Ireland and Indonesia. When he retired from Boeing in 1994, he went to work at the local Sears store where he had the title of Tool Expert. He loved his time there as he got to demonstrate tools and do some woodworking. Jim loved woodworking and was the head of the woodworking group at Timber Ridge, the retirement community that he and Judy moved to in 2008.

Jim was very active at Bellevue First United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Wednesday Wonder Workers, a group who took care of maintenance of the church and grounds. He ran the sound booth for a number of years. He and Judy helped in the kitchen with prep and clean-up after numerous events. They both sang in the choir and were also members of Methodoers. Methodoers was a group who met once a month for potlucks and home-grown entertainment, and several times a year they prepared specialty theme dinners in the church kitchen. They sponsored square dances, set up pie-baking contests, live drama plays, and Talent Shows . Most of the Methodoers were also in leadership roles throughout the life of the congregation.

Jim also loved to fish and camp. The family spent many vacations camping at various spots around Washington State. He loved being at the baseball field, whether it was watching his children, his grandchildren or his beloved Seattle Mariners play. When his boys were young, he was involved with them in the YMCA Indian Guides Program, a father-son (later parent-child) development program, intended to help stereotypical stern fathers form real, authentic bonds with their children. He also enjoyed photography. One of the highlights of the class he took was going to the tallest building in Seattle, which at the time was Smith Tower, to take photographs of the city. He and Judy were also Square Dancers with the Samena Squares, a modern square dance club. He even sewed his own western shirts to match the square dance dresses Judy made.

Jim was known for his humor, kindness and work ethic. Anyone who met him immediately liked him.

He was never scared to take on new opportunities and did everything with honesty and integrity. He had very strong values and was well liked by everyone, mostly due to his positive energy. Jim had incredible patience, and always made time to help others. He would say it all comes back to us.

He was survived by his wife of 70 years, Julia Ann (Black) Pake; his sister Virginia Dyment; two sons, Steven Pake and Randy Pake; his daughter, Kathy Muggy; four grandsons, Geoff Muggy, Brian Pake, Tony Muggy, Andrew Pake; four great-granddaughters, Amber Muggy, Eliana Pake, Hannah Pake and Holland Pake. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen and Georgia.

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.”

*Class C Definition - A level of minor-league baseball, below Class B, from 1902 to 1962. In 1963, all Class C leagues were moved to Class A, in favor of a new rookie league.