Jess L. Bondurant Jr.

October 17, 1940 - September 6, 2011

Jess L. Bondurant Jr., 70, of Port Townsend died September 6, 2011, with loved ones by his side in Bremerton, Washington, following complications from open-heart surgery.

He was born on October 17, 1940, in Yakima to Jess and Gladys Bondurant.

In 1955, he moved to Port Angeles, where he attended Port Angeles High School.

Mr. Bondurant moved in 1961 to Port Townsend, where he began a 37-year career with Port Townsend Paper Company. In his time with the paper company, he held a variety of positions, including apprentice millwright, maintenance troubleshooter, mechanic, millwright foreman, pipefitter/welder and finally supervisor. He retired in 1998.

From 1976 until 2008, he managed the original 20-acre Egg and I ranch, where he farmed and raised cattle, sheep and horses at various times. Mr. Bondurant said that he bought his first cow just to eat some of the hay growing on the property. He loved the ranch tremendously; it was his pride and joy.

His other great passion was his work for Jefferson County Fire District No. 1. He first joined as a volunteer firefighter in 1982, serving until August 2002. Among other accomplishments, he was instrumental in obtaining Medic 13 for the district.

Mr. Bondurant was first elected Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 commissioner in November 1991. He was re-elected for additional terms in 1997, 2003 and 2009. He was running unopposed on the 2011 ball­ot for another six-year term.

His interests included coaching Little League baseball, and he helped lead his team to the Jefferson County Little League championship in 1979 and 1980.

Mr. Bondurant is survived by his wife of 49 years, Pat; brother Dennis Bondurant; one daughter, Debra, and James Trafton of Lake Havasu, Arizona; two sons, Corey Bondurant of Shoreline, Washington, and Rob Bondurant of Port Townsend; one grandson, Jess Trafton; three aunts and one uncle in Eastern Washington state; and numerous cousins.

Gravesite services will be held at Chimacum Cemetery at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 2011. A celebration of Mr. Bondurant's life will be held at the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Fire Station, 9193 Rhody Drive, Chimacum, at 2:30 p.m., followed by a potluck.