James Hanks

James G. Hanks (Jim), 82, recently of Albuquerque, NM, and formerly a long-time resident of Pendleton, OR, died on July 21, 2016, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born March 2, 1934, in Long Beach, CA, to Earl Hanks and Elizabeth Knackstedt. He grew up in California, the Philippines, Japan, and Oregon. Both his father and his step-father, Arch Morrison, (who raised him from an early age), were Naval officers, and Jim followed their lead, serving in the Navy in the mid-1950s on the USS Passig AW3 off the shore of Vietnam. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Math and Science from Southern Oregon College. Jim worked from an early age, picking plums, ushering at a movie theater, loading at a furniture store, building houses, laying tile, repairing automobile radios, logging, and finally retiring after a long career as an insurance adjuster. After retirement he worked part-time for the City of Pendleton with a group of people he greatly admired and respected. He was never afraid of hard work.

His interests were varied. He restored two British sports cars, won many trophies, and traveled with other British car owners to points in the Northwest U.S. and Canada. He was a good cook, known for his spaghetti sauce, enchiladas, coffee cake, and clam chowder. He liked Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, Ruffles potato chips, salmon, and anything chocolate. He did not like peas. Jim worked diligently on genealogy, read the latest books on physics and politics, and played the guitar. He was a devoted Oregon Ducks football fan. He was loving, kind, ethical to a fault, generous, honest, loyal, trustworthy, forgiving, and had a keen sense of humor. He was a long-time member and Elder of First Presbyterian Church of Pendleton, and spent many hours volunteering at Westminster Woods, the church's camp, planning and working on improvements, felling trees, and performing various other duties. In the fall of 2015, he and his second wife, Mary, moved from Pendleton to Albuquerque, where they had married in 2009. They spent many pleasant hours sitting on the patio watching the birds in the back yard and enjoying the sunshine.

Survivors include his wife of almost seven years, Dr. Mary A. Johnson; daughter,
Alison Naney (Sam); son, Adam Hanks (Cindy); step-daughters, Nancy Underwood (Wes), and Julie Lamb (John); step-son, Paul Johnson (Sepi); grandchildren, Bailey and Taylor Hanks and Fiona Naney; step-grandchildren, Karl, Craig, and Claire Underwood, Roger Underwood (Emma), Hannah and Ryan McCauley, Chloe, John "Jack", and Henry Lamb; sisters, Jeanne Thomas and Sandra Sutherland (Joe); brothers, Russell Hanks and Steve Morrison (Tami); many nieces, nephews, cousins. Besides family members, he leaves a plethora of friends, including former wife, Evelyn Stewart, the mother of his children, and special friends, Dick and Mike Lapp.

Our gratitude goes to Hospice de la Luz for their excellent care. Cremation has taken place per Jim's wishes. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 25, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., at FRENCH - Lomas. A Memorial Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Pendleton, OR, at a later date. If desired, contributions in Jim's memory may be made to the church, at 201 Dorion SW, Pendleton, OR 97801. Please visit our online guestbook for Jim at www.FrenchFunerals.com.