James Melvin Wooten's Obituary
James Melvin Wooten
3/22/1956 - 12/18/2016
Jim was born march 21st 1956 an passed away in a tragic accident on December 18th at home where he lived with his sister Karen he was 60 years young. Jim is survived by his children Michelle Schwartz, Florida; Carley Drake, Texas and Joe Wooten, Washington and Leon Demmert, Alaska; granddaughters Emily and Elysia Ann. He has 2 older half sisters both in North Carolina, Eva Stines an JoAnne Stines and 2 younger sisters Karen Millard and Robin Yell both in Oregon plus loads of cousins an aunts an uncle's whom he loved dearly.
Jim was born in Salem Oregon where his life adventure started, parents Joseph an Ernestine (Tina) Wooten were in the Air Force which took this young boy all over the country. Dad was eventually transferred to Japan when Jim was very young so his first language was Japanese not English. His first little sister was born there an so started his love of the opposite sex! Robin came a couple years later by that time Jim could speak English! The family settled in Salem where Jim attended Keizer elementary then to Whitaker Junior High where he started his love of basketball. Before high school the family moved to El Toro, CA where he attended Mission Viejo high school and graduated from there in 1974. After high school Jim decided he was ready for life on his own which only means his parents did a great job preparing him. He eventually moved to anchorage Alaska for a few years where he drove truck hauling whatever needed to be moved. He moved back to the lower 48 where he stayed close to his family.
Jim's passions were helping anyone and everyone who needed it, music, boating and his family. And if he could help you with a boat that only made him happier, boating filled his summers and anyone visiting he made sure to show them a good time on the water.
Jim's jobs were just that, jobs, a means to get something for his boat or a great sound system to annoy everyone in the house. Seahawk Sunday was his day and we all knew he was not going to answer his phone or talk to you unless it was about the game he was a true 12th man. Jim also did not meet a female that he did not like! For whatever reason Jim had more female friends than any man I knew!
His service is this Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11:00AM at Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud.
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