Matthew James M.D.

SALEM - Our beloved Matt died at home of prostate cancer at the age of 57 on January 27, 2008, surrounded by his family in Salem, Ore.Born in Portland on April 24, 1950, Matt grew up in Beaverton and always took great joy in the natural world. At Sunset High School ('68), he was student body president and played quarterback under "Mouse" Davis.  He held the state record  in  touchdown  passes  for  5  years.  He attended Whitman College, where he played baseball, majored in math, graduated summa cum laude ('72), and met his wife of 36 years, Barbara Morrison James. They married January 8, 1972, and had six children whom they homeschooled over 18 years.Matt attended Oregon Health Sciences University and received his MD in 1976. His internship was completed at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Wash. Matt practiced family and emergency medicine for 26 years in Salt Lake City, in Eastern Oregon and Washington, and at Salem Hospital. At age 21, he ran the Park City marathon without training and without shoes. He built a log home for his family in the Blue Mountains. He greatly enjoyed coaching baseball and led his son Tom's Babe Ruth team in Salem for 3 years. After retiring from medicine, he volunteered his time to provide online advice to homeschooling parents. One of the projects closest to his heart was his book Homeschooling Odyssey.  Matt was a formidable bridge player, a self-taught jazz pianist, a voracious reader of Dickens and many others, and a master gabber. His brilliant sense of humor and energy for others were limitless. Even in illness, he cared for his gardens, comforted and looked after his family, and made his visitors laugh. He loved looking out at the ocean and up into towering evergreens. He loved his family more than anything. We love him infinitely and will miss him deeply.Preceded in death by mother, Martha Rose Lehman. Survived by father, Arthur M. James (Sandra) of Portland; sister, Sally James (Richard Apfel) of Seattle; brothers, Tom James (Colleen) of Homer, Alaska, Chris James (Danielle) of Portland, Art James of Port Orchard, Wash., and Andrew James (Kathy Salyer) of Portland; wife, Barbara; children, Jennifer Robinson (Ben) of Bloomington, Ind., Adrian (fiancee Apa Sohoni), Jocelyn, Emma, Julia, and Tom; grandchildren, Tilly and Lewis Robinson; 10 nephews and nieces, including his godson Matthew Francis James, 3, of Portland; best friend and cousin Don Walster; and best feline friend Edgar.A celebration of Matt's life is planned for April 26 in Salem. Matt's family welcomes  photos  and  written  remembrances  which  can  be  shared  at  the celebration. Our appreciation to Willamette Valley Hospice, Dr. William Pierce, Dr. Sheila Sund, and Dr. Alan Hay..