James B. " Jim"  McAdow,  a long-time resident of Skagit County, passed away at home this last week.  He recently turned 81 years old.

Jim was born in Alger, WA  in March 1942 to Alva and Helen McAdow.   His parents migrated to and arrived in Skagit County from Colorado just before World War II.    Jim was the fourth of five children and was born at the family home.   Burton,  Jerry Lee, Sr.  and Wanda were teenagers when he joined the clan, and his younger brother, William, brought the final piece to Alva and Helen's progeny.

Jim spent his early learning years at several different schools in the Burlington School district and attended Burlington-Edison High School.

Jim's life was greatly impacted by the loss of his beloved older sister, Wanda, from leukemia the year he turned 10;  his brother Jerry Lee, Sr. died when he was 12;   and then he lost his mother to a heart condition when he turned 16.

He left high school early and moved to California to work and to live with extended family.     While in the Sonoma County  /  Santa Rosa area  Jim started a relationship with his first wife,  Bernice Emory Barrett.  Bernice brought two children to the marriage and then also had two more with Jim.  They married in 1965, ultimately divorcing just 12 years later.

During his time living in Placer County near the Sierra Nevada mountain range he met his second wife,  Francine Partin Ballenger.   After Jim moved back to Washington state a final time with his younger daughters he  was very pleased when Fran followed him to Washington.   She brought her four children to their marriage which commenced in 1978.   Jim and Fran quietly celebrated their wedding 45th anniversary earlier this year.

Within this very blended family Jim considered himself the father of 8 and ultimately the grandfather to 25 .  At the time of his death there were 21  great-grandchildren.

When Jim and Fran married he decided to align himself with her religion.   He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout their marriage.   His last formal calling was teaching younger primary age children as a teaching team on Sundays with his beloved Francine.

He was a social kind of guy.  He would talk to strangers often.   He used laughter to lighten the mood, or as a coping mechanism when he was nervous.

For employment Jim worked several manufacturing jobs  as well as truck driving both long -haul and short-haul during several phases of his life.   He owned two businesses and he ended his working time as a driver for Intermountain States,  a propane transport company.

Sadly, the last few years of Jim's life was consumed with fighting medical conditions. He spent a great deal of the recent pandemic within the hospital system.

When not at the hospital,  his primary caregiver was his wife, Francine.   Several medical professionals went beyond the call and assisted Fran to bring him relief and healing when possible.  In particular Dr. Pea of the Wound Care Clinic in Mount Vernon.   Several friends in the church organization were especially attentive and assisted with transportation or emotional support when needed.   Extended family stepped up as well.

Jim was the last of his siblings to die when he passed on May 17.   His parents, siblings, and all his brothers' wives had already passed from this mortal life to the next.

He is survived by his loving wife, Francine. He called  4 women and 4 men his children -  Daughters and their current spouses/partners:   Pat Sawyer (Herb),  Monette Bauer (Steve),  Yvonne McAdow,  and Brenda Stoaks (Frank);  Sons and their current spouses:  Tim Barrett (Judy), Paul Ballenger (Jean), Duane Ballenger (Jenny) and Cliff Ballenger (Jenn).

Through his bio siblings Jim  is survived by oldest niece,  Pam Robinson,  as well as the children of his youngest brother,  nephew Bill McAdow and family and his niece, Belinda McAdow   He is survived by beloved cousin, John Barrett and a very dear friend Wayne Clark.    He had several much-loved sisters and brothers-in-law scattered across the US and Canada including one particular couple who he considered good friends as well,  Kathy and Jim Christensen.

Jim's large extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews through marriage connections to Fran were all loved by him.   You know who you are!

To honor Jim's life his family will be holding a memorial service on Thursday, May 25th, commencing at 2pm at their local ward's church building in Sedro-Woolley.  We invite all the church family and community friends who loved him to celebrate his life by joining us in music, in prayer and in sharing our happy thoughts and memories of Jim McAdow.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursaday, May 25, 2023 at 2:00pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,1122 McGarigle Road Sedro-Woolley, WA  98284.

Please visit www.hulbushfuneralhome.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.

Arrangements are under the care of Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington, WA.