James Christopher “Jim” Crisp, Sr., 73, a life-long resident of the Harbor, died at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia on Friday, April 5, 2013. He was born in Aberdeen, May 25, 1939, the son of Melvin G. and Verna (Lattin) Crisp.
Jim was raised in the Wishkah Valley and went to school there. He joined the Navy in 1958 where he learned mechanic skills, especially aircraft mechanics.
Upon return to Aberdeen in 1961 he went to work for Don Hanson Motors. He would later work at Eastside Cycle, Port of Grays Harbor, Brumfield-Twidwell Motors in Montesano, the Aberdeen-Hoquiam School Bus Garage and Grays Harbor Transit from which he retired in 2006. He had also been a mechanic for Grays Harbor Flight at Bowerman Field. He and his brother, Dan, had an aircraft rental business, Crisp and Crisp Inc., at the airport.
Jim married Cora Sigrid Wallin in Wishkah Valley on August 21, 1965. They later divorced. He married Irene Rose Hulett in Abedeen on December 7, 1983.
Jim was a member of the Aberdeen Eagles; American Legion, Post 110, Lacey; and had been a member of the Big “M” Flying Club, American Motorcycle Association and the Grays Harbor Motorcycle Club.
He loved spending time with his family, never missing his grandchildren’s birthdays. He liked to fly and travel in the motor home. He and Irene were foster parents to 50 children.
Jim is survived by his wife Irene; 2 sons: James C. (Melissa) Crisp, Jr., Satsop and Jason (Ruth) Crisp, Lakewood, WA; 2 daughters: Kjerstin (Sean) Riedel and Karmen (Jamie) Galvin, both of Olympia; a brother: Daniel (Cynthia) Crisp, Onalaska, WA; and six grandchildren: Bryson and Baylee Crisp, Nicholas and Justin Galvin, and Brandin and Sydney Riedel. A sister, Bonnie Rapp, preceded Jim in death.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 11th in the chapel at Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen. The Reverend Sheila Crisp of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Olympia, will officiate. A gathering of friends and family will follow and the location will be announced at the service. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, April 11th in St. John’s Cemetery, Wishkah Valley, where members of the VFW Post 224 Honor Guard will give military honors.
The family suggests memorials may be made to The Children’s Advocacy Center of Grays Harbor, 514 East Broadway Ave., Montesano, WA 98563.
An online tribute with words of condolence or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Good Conduct Medal
US Navy
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Crisp Sr, please visit our flower store.
Jim was raised in the Wishkah Valley and went to school there. He joined the Navy in 1958 where he learned mechanic skills, especially aircraft mechanics.
Upon return to Aberdeen in 1961 he went to work for Don Hanson Motors. He would later work at Eastside Cycle, Port of Grays Harbor, Brumfield-Twidwell Motors in Montesano, the Aberdeen-Hoquiam School Bus Garage and Grays Harbor Transit from which he retired in 2006. He had also been a mechanic for Grays Harbor Flight at Bowerman Field. He and his brother, Dan, had an aircraft rental business, Crisp and Crisp Inc., at the airport.
Jim married Cora Sigrid Wallin in Wishkah Valley on August 21, 1965. They later divorced. He married Irene Rose Hulett in Abedeen on December 7, 1983.
Jim was a member of the Aberdeen Eagles; American Legion, Post 110, Lacey; and had been a member of the Big “M” Flying Club, American Motorcycle Association and the Grays Harbor Motorcycle Club.
He loved spending time with his family, never missing his grandchildren’s birthdays. He liked to fly and travel in the motor home. He and Irene were foster parents to 50 children.
Jim is survived by his wife Irene; 2 sons: James C. (Melissa) Crisp, Jr., Satsop and Jason (Ruth) Crisp, Lakewood, WA; 2 daughters: Kjerstin (Sean) Riedel and Karmen (Jamie) Galvin, both of Olympia; a brother: Daniel (Cynthia) Crisp, Onalaska, WA; and six grandchildren: Bryson and Baylee Crisp, Nicholas and Justin Galvin, and Brandin and Sydney Riedel. A sister, Bonnie Rapp, preceded Jim in death.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 11th in the chapel at Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen. The Reverend Sheila Crisp of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Olympia, will officiate. A gathering of friends and family will follow and the location will be announced at the service. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday, April 11th in St. John’s Cemetery, Wishkah Valley, where members of the VFW Post 224 Honor Guard will give military honors.
The family suggests memorials may be made to The Children’s Advocacy Center of Grays Harbor, 514 East Broadway Ave., Montesano, WA 98563.
An online tribute with words of condolence or a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Good Conduct Medal
US Navy
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Crisp Sr, please visit our flower store.
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