James Morley Scheidel

James (Jim) Scheidel was born to Marvin and Ellen (Morley) Scheidel on November 17, 1947. He was raised in Salem, Oregon along with his two younger sisters Judy (Goeller) and Jennifer (Bertz). He attended Hoover and Auburn Elementary schools, Parrish Junior High, and graduated North Salem High in 1966. He went on to Central Oregon College in Bend, Oregon completing one year before enlisting in the United States Navy.

After basic training in San Diego, California, Jim was sent to Guam as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate, attached to squadron VQ-3 at the Naval Air Station Agana, Guam where he worked on two EC-130Q aircraft. After a year and a half on Guam, he was transferred, in June 1969, to the USS Hornet ported out of Long Beach California as an air crewman on the Hornet’s C1A aircraft. In July 1969, and then again in November 1969, the Hornet was the prime recovery ship for Apollo 11 and Apollo 12. Jim spent his last year in the Navy at NAS Lemoore in Lemoore, California and was on a Navy pistol shooting team.

Upon being honorably discharged in March of 1971, Jim bought a house in Salem and enrolled at Chemeketa Community College, graduating in June 1974 with an Associate degree in Drafting Technology. In July 1974, he went to work for CH2M-Hill, an engineering firm. In September of that year, he married Laurie Keiner, daughter of Norma and Richard Highberger of Salem. In 1975, Jim purchased a 1974 Corvette that started a two decade love affair with Corvettes. He owned several during that time including a 1959 that he restored, and a 1984 and 1986 that he auto-crossed.

Laurie’s stepfather, Richard, owned property on Dogwood in Gates where he had built an A-frame summer home. Many enjoyable visits to that A-frame introduced Jim to the Santiam Canyon area, and especially Gates. In July, 1991 Jim and Laurie purchased a forty acre “ranch” at the corner of Gates Bridge East and Mad Creek Road where he started raising Longhorn cattle. Living in Salem and commuting to Portland every workday made it most enjoyable to go to Gates on weekends to unwind. In 2001, Laurie was diagnosed with a rare, but fatal form of cancer. She died in September 2004, and is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Gates, Oregon.

It was a rough year for Jim, but in September, 2005 he met Linda Merkel (Schibel) from Portland. They were married in August, 2006. In July, 2007 they retired, Jim from CH2M-Hill after 33 years, and Linda from Toyota Logistic Services after 32 years. Linda sold her house in Portland and they moved to the “ranch” where they did an extensive remodel and expansion to the existing home. In 2008, Jim joined the Gates Fire Department, and after 8 months of Fire Academy training became a volunteer firefighter for them. Serving that department for 10 years.

Jim had no children. Linda has a son, Kris Merkel, who lives in Illinois, and a daughter, Kim Merkel, who lives in Portland. He is survived by his sister Judy Goeller (Pete), and Jennifer Bertz (Dave). Nieces Tina Valech (Jayson) and Sarah Morrow (Dan). Nephews Rich Goeller and Andrew Bertz (Anna) along with his six great nephews and nieces.

Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, August 2nd, at 1:00pm, at the Gates Community Church of Christ, 40070 Gates School Rd., Gates, Oregon 97346.

Arrangements are by Weddle Funeral Service, Stayton, OR. Donations can be made to the Gates Rural Fire Department.