Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

James D. Tiger

About

Stayton High School University of Oregon

James Tiger Obituary

James D. Tiger November 3, 1938 - July 4, 2009 SUBLIMITY - Jim Tiger died peacefully at his home in Sublimity on the morning of July 4. He was born November 3, 1938 to Dewitt and Vurna Tiger in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. He attended Wilson grade school before moving to Oregon when he was eight. He graduated from Stayton High School in 1956 and from the University of Oregon in 1960. He then entered Officer Candidate School and served in the Navy for 7 years as a submariner on the U.S.S. James K. Polk and the U.S.S. Queenfish. He graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1971 and returned to Stayton to join the law firm of Duncan & Duncan, now Duncan, Tiger & Niegel, where he practiced law for 38 years. Jim married Edie Elledge in 1972. He is survived by his wife, Edie; and his children, daughters, Kathy (Scott) Pons of Roseburg, Tammy (Dan) Nichol of Beaverton, and Jennifer (Chad) Niegel of Stayton; and son, Paul (Jaime) Tiger of New York City. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Joanie (Josh) Liddell, Kelly (Ryan) Bryant, Christine and Jessie Pons, Danielle and Kevin Nichol, Ryan and Eric Niegel; and great-grandson, Blake Bryant. Other survivors include his brother, George Tiger; and sisters, Wynona Farris, Helen Collins, Betty Miller, Lori Davis, Peggy Spitz, Wanda Van Gulik, Carolyn Beebe, and Susan Kuhnle. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Mary Winter. He was a founding member of Stayton Area Rotary, a Stayton Roadrunner, a Marion County Master Gardener and a member of the Marion County Bar Association. He loved the Stayton community. He founded the Stayton youth basketball league on behalf of Rotary in 1982. He coached youth basketball, baseball and soccer. He was named Rotarian of the Year in 1985 and again in 1996. He was recognized as Stayton's First Citizen in 1988. He established the Stayton High School Community Grant program in 2001. He loved spending time with his family, gardening, running, and following the Oregon Ducks. He was an avid researcher of the McGill and Tiger genealogy, celebrating his Creek Indian and Scotch-Irish heritage. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Jim Tiger Memorial Scholarship in care of West Coast Bank. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 9 at Stayton High School Auditorium. Arrangements are by Weddle Funeral Home.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Statesman Journal on Jul. 7, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for James Tiger

20 Entries

Peter Boyne

July 8, 2009

My sincere sympathy to the huge family Jim leaves behind. Jim and I served together in the Navy on USS JAMES K. POLK SSBN 645 in the late '60s making deterrent patrols with underwater launchable ballistic missiles. He was a sucess at his Navy responsibilites and, based on his obit, carried that success into his civilian life.

Reid Carr

July 8, 2009

Jim and Edie provided a home away from home when I went to college with Paul. I have such great respect for Jim. His accomplishments, his family and the contributions he has made to so many are evidence of a great person and citizen. I want to extend my condolences to his family and friends; I am sorry I won't be attending the services, but will certainly be thinking of all of you.

Todd, Tara and Drew Boedigheimer

July 8, 2009

Please accept our sympathy and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. I truly enjoyed getting to know Jim and I appreciated his help tremendously over the past couple of years. His passion for his work and for his DUCKS were greatly admired!

Wanda Van Gulik

July 8, 2009

My brother, my best friend and confidant. We had a lot of good trips, experiences and BBQ's. He introduced me to running many years ago and coached my husband, Joe, on how to run a marathon. I will really miss him.

Judi Templin

July 8, 2009

Jim and I want to express our sincere condolences to Edie, Jennifer and Paul along with the rest of Jim's family. I will personally miss working with him. He had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and I enjoyed him so much. He and Jennifer and I had a great road trip to the coast one winter day for a telephone company file! Snow in the coast range but we made it there and back!

David Neitling

July 8, 2009

Jim was an inspiration to family and friends. I extend my sympathy to his family and friends.

Bob Wilkes

July 7, 2009

My condolences to Jim's family, friends and other beneficiaries of his civic contributions. We all know what a loss his passing represents.

I had the privilege to serve with Jim on the USS James K Polk submarine in the late 1960s. Jim always exhibited a quiet competence and a great sense of humor. He made endeavors to work quietly and effectively with people to get things done. I particularly appreciated his gift to me of an Oregon Ducks hat a few years ago just before a Duck football team bowl appearance. I took the opportunity to wear the hat just recently.

Curt and Pam Froemke

July 7, 2009

So glad we were able to get to know Jim in recent years. We've enjoyed watching him be a wonderful grandfather to his grandsons Ryan and Eric Niegel. His many contributions to our community will keep him a legacy for years to come. Our heartfelt condolences to Edie, Jen and Chad, and Jim's entire family. Jim was a very special man and will be greatly missed.

Rod Yoder

July 7, 2009

I would like to express my personal sympathy to all family and friends of Jim. And on behalf of the Aurora Fire District a gratitude for his exceptional service to our organization.

Larry and Cheryl Lockett

July 7, 2009

Jim was the leader of the pack. Without his leadership the past 12 Hood to Coast relays by the Sublime Striders would not have happen. His dry wit and constant encouragement made me, a fat football coach, into a slow runner. Jim taught me much and he changed my life. Cheryl and I think back to the time we spent with Jim and Edie after runs at their house as some of the best years of our lives. We loved going on a run, recovering in the back yard, watching the fish, debating politics, drinking a beer and grazing on Jim and Edie's berries.
We will miss him very much.

Lori and Daryl Davis

July 7, 2009

My brother James Tiger, a descendant of Chief Moty Tiger and he has shown in his life a remnant of his fire. As long as we brothers and sisters remember James he will be there to comfort us. Thank you James for setting an example for us to follow.

Annette Bouchie

July 7, 2009

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time of loss. I will pray for the Lord's comfort and guidance as you go through this time.

True and Liane Carr

July 7, 2009

We are deeply saddened to learn of Jim's passing. We feel privileged and blessed to have known him. Our condolences to the fine family he leaves behind.

Kim Brown

July 7, 2009

On behalf of the Brown and Heery families, we send our deepest sympathy to all of you. Jim was a great man who truly made a difference and will be missed. Our thoughts are with all of you.

Sarah Smith (Palmer)

July 7, 2009

Jim will be missed greatly. He gave him my first job my senior year in high school and gave me the knowledge that has helped me within my career in the Judicial Department.

Kirsten Atkin

July 7, 2009

Jim gave me my first shot at learning what it is like to be an attorney. I am in law school because of him. He will be greatly missed.

Tom Elden

July 7, 2009

I served with Jim on the Marion County Bar Board of Directors. He was a good friend with a ready smile. He had a quiet confidence which probably came from his life of service including on submarines in the US Navy. My very sincere condolences to his daughter Jennifer and the rest of Jim's family.

Steven Laux

July 7, 2009

My sincerest, heart-felt condolences go out to Edie, to the Tiger family, and to the oodles of friends who will suffer from Jim's departure from this world. Jim leaves quite a legacy through his many accomplishments and status in this life; they speak tomes about the motivation and drive which were so elemental to Jim's character. Of course what matters even more than those ephemeral character traits were longer lasting and more meaningful intangibles... like his smile and his friendship. These, among Jim's other enduring qualities, will be missed by all.

Kevin Hendricks

July 7, 2009

On behalf of the Board of Directors and members of the Woodburn Fire District I want to convey our sympathy at Jim’s passing. GO DUCKS….

July 7, 2009

Please accept my sincerest sympathies
at Jim's passing. I knew him since
we were both in fifth grade. He will
be so greatly missed.
Carol Fery

Showing 1 - 20 of 20 results