James Harley Cawthra's Obituary
James Harley Cawthra "The Colonel" "The Colonel" was born James (Jim) Harley Cawthra in Bartley, Red Willow County, Nebraska, on December 20, 1921, the eldest son of Harley Cawthra & L. Marie Frame. He passed peacefully into eternal life on February 26, 2008, with his family at his bedside. Jim spent his early years in south central and western Nebraska, graduating in 1940 from Gering High School in Gering, Nebraska. After enlisting in the Nebraska National Guard on April 10, 1939, during his junior year in high school, he was called to active duty on December 23, 1940, and became a squad leader and platoon sergeant. He attended Officer's Candidate School in 1942 and served in France during WWII. In 1944 he was wounded in battle, and returned to the U.S. to recover. In July of 1946 he was accepted into the regular Army and made the military service his career. On July 20, 1950, he married Bessie M. Waeltz in Brentwood, Missouri. Jim and Bess had two children, Lynn Marie and David Lee. Military service took Jim to duty stations across the U.S. and the world: Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; Ft. Knox, Kentucky; Rome, Georgia; Augsburg, Germany; Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; Korea and the Far East; Washington, D.C.; Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Hawaii; Vietnam; another stint at Ft. Knox; and finally, Seattle, Washington. Along the way, Jim also managed to attend school and acquired a B.S. in Political Science, and an M.A. in International Relations and Organization. In addition, he earned recognition for his outstanding military service, receiving a number of awards including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. Jim retired from the military as a full colonel in May of 1970, after completing two years as a Professor of Military Science at the University of Washington. Deciding Washington was "too rainy," he moved his family to Colorado's front range, where they remained for several years. During that time, Jim obtained licenses to sell real estate and to prepare taxes. He also got a teaching certificate for the public schools, and dabbled in landscape architecture, while continuing to pursue a wide assortment of hobbies which included, over the years, model trains, oil painting, gem faceting, and, of course, golf. Finally, after eight years of Colorado snow, he and Bess said "enough already!" and returned to the Tacoma area, where they immediately plunged themselves into the community as active members of both St. Mary's Episcopal Church and various Masonic organizations. During the last 28 years of his life, Jim fought a valiant battle with Parkinson's Disease. In February of 2000, he moved to the University Place Care Center, where he was affectionately known as "Colonel," and charmed the staff with his smiles and sly humor. His family is grateful beyond words for the excellent care and companionship the UPCC staff provided him during these final years of his life's journey. Jim is survived by his wife Bess and daughter Lynn, as well as an assortment of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son David, brothers Robert and Joseph, and his parents. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 29, at Mountain View Funeral Home, and a service celebrating Jim's life will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 10630 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, on Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 11 a.m. Burial with full military honors follows the service at Mountain View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Jim's name to Franciscan Hospice, Franciscan Foundation, PO Box 1502, Tacoma, WA 98401-9836, or to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 10630 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
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