James Powell Estes

1922 - 2013

James Powell Estes of Deadwood, Oregon, died October 5, 2013, of complications from a stroke. He was born April 18, 1922, in Birmingham, Ala., to James Powell Estes, Jr., and Laura Sumerlin Estes, the third of four children.

Jim took pride in having studied four years of Latin in a small country school. The family then moved to Gulfport, Miss., where he graduated from high school and attended junior college. Jim joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific from 1942 to 1946.

After his Navy service, Jim attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he began a long career in journalism as managing editor of the student newspaper, the Daily Californian. After graduation, Jim worked at the Stockton Record and as an editor at the San Francisco Chronicle.

After becoming a Quaker, Jim served as program coordinator of the peace education section at the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia for six years.

In 1972, along with his wife, Caroline, and four others, Jim co-founded Alpha Farm, an extended-family style intentional community in Deadwood, Oregon, based on Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community and equality. He lived at Alpha and served as a board member until his death.

Jim also worked as a copy editor at the Salem States-man-Journal until his retirement. In retirement, Jim published a small newspaper, the Mapleton Saler, which served the upper Siuslaw Valley from 1987 to 1997. He wrote pithy letters to the editors of other newspapers, managed the book section at Alpha-Bit café, bookstore and craftshop in Mapleton, and co-hosted Friday night dinners there with Caroline for many years. He enjoyed classical music, particularly the Oregon Bach Festival.

Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Caroline; two daughters, Trinity (Ronnie Mae) Carey, of Eugene, and Maria Davis, of Federal Way, Washington; a brother, John, of Kingwood, Texas; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and current and former members and residents of Alpha Farm.

Burial was October 8 at Alpha Farm. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 26, at 2 p.m. at the Deadwood Community Center. Arrangements are by Alpha Farm.