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BORN
1924
DIED
2017
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James Stovall Obituary
December 14, 1924 - September 3, 2017
Salem - Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943, and at 18 may have been the youngest rifle range coach ever assigned; also a member of the United State Army assigned to the Counter Intelligence School at Oberammergau Germany. Married an Oregon girl, Clarice M. Harms, a War Department Employee at the school in January 1948 - Two Children, Sherrie Y. Jern and James, Jr. and two grandchildren, Jessica A. Jern and Matthew K. Stovall. But Clarice died January 1990, which was a great loss to us all...
Salem Oregon Police Officer for 36 ½ years, having spent most of those years in Criminal Investigations as a detective and lieutenant commanding. I retired December 31, 1985 and moved to the Vail/Beaver Creek Colorado ski country and lived on an exclusive golf course, "Arrowhead at Vail" for more than two years, skiing 80 days per year and fly fishing Eagle River which parallels the golf course, and also fished the Jackson Hole Wyoming area as well as Yellowstone National Park.
What a life! Incredible!
A celebration of Jim's life will be from 9-10:30 AM on Saturday, September 9 for friends and fellow officers at The Original Pancake House, 4656 Commercial Street SE. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 AM at Belcrest Memorial Park. Assisting the family is Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Stovall
Sponsored by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.
Mike Fohl
October 23, 2022
I remember Jim and his son from teaching skiing at Hoodoo. Would love to connect with Jim Jr. Mike Fohl 503-781-8070
Jim Hupe
September 1, 2021
Was my best friend at Salem Police Department, worked under him from `81 until he retired, the spent morning coffee and the evening news with him, loved him like a father! He is greatly missed!
Del Johnson
September 14, 2017
We both had the pleasure of working with Lt. Stovall and appreciated his dedication to his work and his desire to serve the citizens of Salem well. We extend our condolences to his family and friends at this time. Del and Donna Johnson
September 12, 2017
I knew and worked with Jim for over 30 years, and I always admired his attention to detail in all aspects of his life. He was instrumental as a homicide investigator in solving a serial killer crime in Salem. For that, he was recognized nationally as "Detective of the Year."
Our personal friendship started when he took the time to take me fly fishing and then taught me how to tie flies. He was an expert Atlantic Salmon fly tier. He used the same attention to tying details as he did in his police work. I will always be grateful to him for the adventures it later brought to my life and my family.
Jim also helped other members of my family by passing on his skiing and fly fishing knowledge. He was very willing to share and help others.
I learned a lot from Jim as he journeyed through the end stages of his life. He was as skillful at that as he was on the ski slopes in his youth.
Thank you for being my friend Jim. I will miss you dearly.
Larry Wacker
Judy Holt
September 8, 2017
Mr. Stovall was a best friend to my father before he passed in 1992..They worked together on the state police force while in Tillamook,Ore. And remained friends after both moved to Salem...
What a great man he was...Take care Jim and give Dad a hug for me....(Harry Howard).......
Jackie Bader
September 8, 2017
To my dear sweet Jim,
I hated to tell you goodbye... I didn't want to let go...
Thank you for the wonder relationship we shared. My heart has been greatly enriched as well as my life.... all because of you. I was deeply touched when you told me you considered me as your daughter. And I was proud to call you my second Dad. I love you.
R Wilkerson
September 8, 2017
I loved your stories. It was a pleasure to know you.
Teri Gilbert
September 7, 2017
Rest easy Jim, you were a truly wonderful man and a fiercely loyal friend.
JIM HUPE
September 7, 2017
He was one of my best friends, while working at Salem Police, several years after he retired, we had breakfast together every day I worked and after work I would spend a few hours at his house watching the news and working on his house for him. A very honorable man...
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