Obituary of James Edward Deacon

James “Jim” Deacon peacefully passed away on October 15, 2019. He was 94 years old. Jim was born March 5, 1925 to Edna and Edward Deacon in Berkeley, California. He moved with his family to Oahu, Hawaii in 1935 and was raised on a sugar plantation. He was a senior in High School when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was shipped to the mainland to live with family in California and graduated from Clearlake High School in 1942. He joined the Navy after graduation and attended Doane College in Nebraska. Jim was a part of the Navy Pre-Flight Program, but sustained an injury and spent eight months in the Naval Hospital. He was honorably discharged in 1944. He resumed his education at UC Berkeley and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in 1950. Jim returned to Hawaii and studied agriculture. He was hired by Castle & Cooke (C&H Sugar) as a management trainee and worked there for five years. In 1955, he returned to U.C. Berkley where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1957. After graduation, he moved to Stockton, California, where he met Doris Mose, while playing Bridge and attending the same church. On April 24, 1959, he married Doris, the love of his life and became the proud Daddy to Bill (6) and Susan (4). They moved to the San Francisco area in 1960 where Jim completed his engineering studies and received his licenses in Mechanical, Civil, and Structural Engineering in four states; California, Oregon, Washington and Montana and worked for several engineering firms. In 1963, their son, James, was born and their family was complete. The family moved to Redding, California in 1968 and Jim began his career with U.S. Plywood. From Redding, they moved to Roseburg, then back to Redding, and finally to Eugene in 1976. Jim retired from Champion Building Products (formerly U.S. Plywood), where he was Head of Engineering in 1987. Jim came out of retirement and worked for Teledyne Wah Chang in Albany for another 7 years. For many years, Doris and Jim enjoyed traveling in their RV across the US and Canada and went on 12 different cruises. They were avid Bridge players, both in couples groups and individual groups; like the Grumpy Old Men’s Group. Jim was very active in the church, and served as a Trustee. Jim enjoyed tennis, crabbing, and camping with family. Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Doris, sons Bill (Helen) and Jim (Sirena), and daughter Susan (Cal), as well as 5 grandchildren, Lisa, Peter, Matthew, Melanie, and Susie; and 10 great grandchildren. In addition, Jim and Doris, informally adopted 2 grandchildren, Chris and Leigh, who are cousins of their grandchildren. Jim was a kind, gentle man with a strong faith in Christ. He had a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. He was a true friend to many, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family is blessed and thankful for the many wonderful years together. A memorial service will be held at Wesley Methodist Church in Eugene on October 26, 2019 at 2pm. Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at Musgrove.com