Wasco County OR Archives Obituaries.....Weeks, James John (Jim) August 30, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 11, 2006, 1:28 am The Dalles Chronicle, August 31, 2005 James John (Jim) Weeks, 93, a long-time resident of The Dalles and for many years editor of The Dalles Chronicle, died at a local care center Aug. 30, 2005. He was born Sept. 30, 1911, in Bottineau, N.D. He attended local schools and junior college, graduating at age 20 from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1932. After working in Minot, N.D. (where he met his wife, Grace), Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, Mo., he came to The Dalles in 1944. Mr. Weeks wrote his own obituary. Of his work history, he wrote that following college graduation he “was willing to battle the Great Depression but found little promising work until an offer came from the Minot Daily News, 80 miles southwest.” He left Minot by train in 1936, heading east for a temporary shift in careers at the nation’s capital. After losing his first menial federal job, he said he made a couple of transfers that improved his lot. In Washington he worked for various agencies in FDR’s New Deal starting in 1936. Before long he joined the Department of Agriculture, working for the information section of the Rural Electrification Administering, first in Washington and later in St. Louis. He and his family moved to The Dalles in 1944, where he had been hired as wire editor for The Chronicle. He spent the next 30 years at the newspaper, retiring in 1974. In 1954 he received an Eric W. Allen Memorial Fellowship for fall and winter terms at the University of Oregon, so the family moved to Eugene temporarily. His fellowship entailed teaching a journalism class mostly composed of upper-level students. After those 30 years with the paper he developed a wealth of knowledge and passion for local events and history. His interest in area history rose when he became president of the Wasco County Historical Society a year after his retirement. His fascination with local history was evident by the time and effort he gave to several area historical organizations. This was affirmed May 24, 2003 when his work was celebrated by the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum by declaring that day “Jim Weeks Day” in honor of his work as one of the museum’s exhibit editors. He said the most lasting tribute was the decision to dedicate the theater there in his name. He served as a lifetime city appointee to the museum board in addition to providing his editorial services. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, photography, fishing and his pets. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth, and his wife, Jocelyn, Lyle; and James Jr., The Dalles; a daughter, Mary Jane, and her husband Scott Beer; three grandchildren, Suzanne and Jody Beer, Wishram; and Stephanie Biggs, Spokane. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 68 years, Grace; a brother, Maurice, and sisters, Frances and Margaret. Commemorative services will be held Friday, Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. at United Church of Christ Congregational with the Rev. Karl Vercouteren officiating. Private interment will follow at Parklawn Cemetery with arrangements in care of Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Wasco County Historical Society, 300 W. 13th St., The Dalles, Ore., 97058 or The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center/Wasco County Historical Museum, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Ore., 97058. Additional Comments: Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon, Dan Spatz, Editor (e-mail dated 3/7/2006). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/obits/w/weeks1147gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb