James Nelson Elvin

James Nelson Elvin, 89, passed away in his home in Salem on August 2nd, 2024. Of 16 siblings he was the last surviving child of Anna Mary Elvin and Abraham Ross Elvin. He is survived by his daughters Brenda Elvin and Sheila Buchholz, and his granddaughter's Bailey and Sydney Buchholz.
Jim was born on April 23rd, 1935 in Lakin, Kansas, but lived most of his early years in Independence, Oregon. As a serviceman in the army he enjoyed both the camaraderie and jumping from airplanes. Some of the jobs he held in life were picking hops, painting houses, selling real estate, and lastly working as a machinist for the State of Oregon. After retirement he enjoyed traveling to all kinds of places and meeting new people. Jim was very generous with his time, helping his daughters, neighbors, and even the city of Salem by painting over areas of graffiti whenever he would come across it.
Having always been a creative and talented person, he invented things - including games made from items he had crafted himself. He was always a very talented woodworker, making beautiful pieced and inlaid boxes that he would give away, and he loved using found items to make unusual things like his metal car (including lady robot driver), decorations and working clocks from golf balls, and pen and pencil holders combining plastic pill bottles and some of his woodworking.
In more recent years Jim grew despondent over being the last of his immediate family and from knowing that all of his old friends had passed before him, even though he treasured visits from his daughters, nieces and nephews, and the neighbors he had grown close to. We hope he has found release from his pain and knows he has been loved. He requested before his passing that his body be cremated without having a service for him. His remains will be interred in the memorial wall at the National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.