James A. Sewell

04/03/1916 - 03/03/2011

SEWELL,
James A.
(Age 94)

Longtime Newport native and family patriarch, Jim Sewell, 94, passed away Thursday, March 3rd. He was born April 3, 1916 to Harold and Grace Sewell in Newport, WA. He graduated from Washington State College (WSU) in engineer-ing and was an avid Cougar fan. He married Mildred Bucher September 1, 1939. They shared 68 wonderful years of marriage before she passed away in 2007. He is survived by his three daughters and their husbands: Norma and Ron Rickman of Pendleton, OR, Mary Ann and Eldon Pearce of Durham, NC, and Margaret and Ron Ward of Portland, OR. He enjoyed his five grandchildren: Mike, Maria, Julie, Lisa, and Megan, and nine great-grandchildren. He is survived by his brother George Sewell of Cambria, CA and his sister Martha Mae Oien of Issaquah, WA and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim enjoyed the outdoors, loving to boat, fish, hunt, garden, and go the the family cabin on Diamond Lake. Jim joined his father, Harold, in his civil engineering business in 1945. He was the PUD engineer for many years, the local engineer of Box Canyon Dam, and many other projects. He was active in the United Church of Christ in Newport and the Newport High School Alumni Association. He was a past state officer of the Knights of Pythias. He was an Eagle Scout in his youth and honored with the Silver Beaver Award for his involvement as an adult in Boy Scouts of America. He was also involved in the Spokane chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineering. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, March 9th at 11 am at the United Church of Christ, 430 W. 3rd St. in Newport, WA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Newport High School Alumni Association in care of Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home, P. O. Box 809, Newport, WA. 99156
SHERMAN-KNAPP FUNERAL HOME in NEWPORT is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com.