James Ryan "Jim" Mcleod

James "Jim" Ryan Mcleod, 45, a resident of the Verboort community passed away on September 4, 2024 at his home after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jim was born on September 9, 1978 in Hillsboro, OR. He was the only son born to Scott and Lisa (Sohler) Mcleod. He was raised in Forest Grove and attended Forest Grove High School.
He met his future wife, Leslie Strassel, while training at the Washington County Fire Academy. They soon began dating and following a four-year courtship, they married on December 24, 2004 in Banks. They lived in Banks until 2009 when they bought their home and moved to Verboort.
Jim was employed as a private security officer, he then started working for Western States Fire Apparatus, then as a Kubota mechanic for Pacific Tractor and OVS. Recently Jim had been employed as a millwright for Beaverton Foods where he was an essential and valued employee.
He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, dirt bike riding and adventure motorcycle riding. He also flew drones, loved his dogs and was a great husband, best friend, and was thought highly of in his community circle. He was an excellent cook and welder and enjoyed splitting firewood. Jim was known to many friends and family for his generosity of knowledge and time. Never the social type, he preferred "porch sitting", helping fix or build something and normally didn't have a lot to say but when he did it was either profound or witty. He had a real knack for learning a new hobby or skill overnight, translating it instantly to adeptness.
Always the mentor, he was also very good with kids, oftentimes taking great interest and patience in building or explaining something for them and encouraging them to learn to use tools. In a generation of screens, he gave the gift of real-world skills.
Always an optimist, he was looking forward to a future adventure motorcycle trip to Area 51 with his best friend and cousin, Brian, and other friends.
He is survived by his loving wife, Leslie, his parents, Scott and Rachel Mcleod of McMinnville, his mother and stepfather, Lisa and Mel Philbrook of Banks, his grandmother, Catherine Sohler and step siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life will be organized at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Mcleod Family Relief Fund at US Bank or to the Go Fund Me Account Click here