James L. HALL

1945 - 2016

HALL, James L.

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on January 8, 2016, at the age of 71. He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and June Hall, brother Michael Hall and many beloved aunts and uncles.
Born on January 3, 1945, Jim grew up in the Coos Bay and Portland areas, attending Beaverton and Sunset High Schools. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country proudly with two tours in Vietnam and service in Europe and Hawaii. He received a Bachelor's degree from Portland State and a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Central Michigan University.
From 1979 until his retirement in 1995, Jim was employed by the U.S. Federal Government. He was instrumental in developing the layout of Fairchild Air Force Base and was awarded Community Planner of the Year for the United States Air Force. During this time, he had the opportunity to move his family to the Philippines for a two year commitment at Clark Air Base. Jim fell in love with this country, its people and its culture.
For the past twenty years, Jim enjoyed retirement, spending time hunting, hiking and searching for the perfect huckleberry patch at Priest Lake, ID. He thoroughly enjoyed time spent with family and friends at his beach house in Florence, Oregon. He also loved traveling, visiting Asia, Australia, Central America, Mexico, Canada, and numerous National Parks, monuments and museums in North America. Jim was a fierce advocate for disabled veterans, often helping strangers navigate the complex V.A. system to get the benefits they deserved. The quality he was best known for was his generosity. He believed people crossed his path for a reason and the resources he was blessed with were meant to be shared. He had an overwhelming spirit of charity, paying local Filipino children's school tuition, collecting baseballs and mitts to give to kids he met in impoverished countries, and carving walking sticks for his fellow disabled veterans.
Jim will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched, including his loving wife of 46 years, Linda (Cummings) Hall and his children, Kelly (Jeremy) LeBret, Joe (Robin) Hall, Kimberly (Trevor) Nelson, and Michael (Megan) Hall. Jim's greatest pride were his grandchildren. He invested so much of his time and resources into their education and success. His legacy of helping others will live on in these kids: Alyssa (Kyle) Jordan, Anthony, Rose and Katelin Hall, Halle and Kinsley Nelson, Jackson and Lauren Hall.
Please join us for a Celebration of Jim's life on January 22, 2016, at 9:30 am. Salvation Army Chapel, 222 E. Indiana, Spokane, WA. A reception will follow. All are invited to a Military Honors Interment at Washington State Veterans Cemetery.