Virginia Catherine James' Obituary
Virginia Catherine Beatty James, born July 17, 1919, in Great Falls, Montana to Grover and Esther (Beckstrom) Beatty. She moved to Portland Oregon as a young child and lived in the Portland area until 1967. She worked for a short time for Pierce Arrow Trucking Co and also with the Southern Pacific Railroad as a secretary. Virginia met Myron James in 1938 at Binky Walker Business School and they were married May 3, 1941 at the First Friends Church in Portland.
Myron was eager to introduce Virginia to his Lord and Savior and soon Virginia accepted Jesus as her personal Savior too. They served together in the Friends churches, starting at the First Friends in Portland, now known as Reedwood. In 1957 they helped with the building and opening of Lynwood Friends, and then after moving to Eugene were an integral part of Eugene Friends Church. Virginia took an active part in the Women’s Missionary Union and was always in the background helping with potlucks, special events and decorations. She and Myron also enjoyed singing and both were active in the choirs at their church.
Together they enjoyed gardening, walking and hiking, and spending a week each year camping at Elk Lake. They also enjoyed the yearly Family Camp at Twin Rocks.
They were fond of the occasional drive down the Columbia River Gorge to Parkdale Oregon where Myron’s sister, Mirna (and husband Harris) Higgins, and later his mother resided. There were many family get-togethers and great times at the huge farmhouse on the fruit ranch there. They also enjoyed weekly trips to Mulino, Oregon where Myron’s other sister, Roberta (and husband Pastor Jim) Brown, gave piano lessons to the girls when they were young. Later the Brown’s moved to Coos Bay and visiting them at the ocean was also a delightful event for them.
Music played a big part in the family, although Virginia wasn’t gifted at any particular instrument she loved music and many times you could hear her humming or singing a tune, or doing a little tap dance in the middle of the kitchen floor. She loved to watch musicals, “The Sound of Music” being one of her favorites. She was a big encourager for their daughters to play both the piano and clarinet. She spent many hours year after year being the chauffeur to and from those music lessons and or school music events.
They were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Sharon Virginia, in 1944. Their desire to have more children led them to the adoption of Christine Grace, in 1954.
Virginia had a special love for babies and took care of 21 Boys and Girls Aide babies (and one older child) over the years. She would bring the newborns from the hospital and give them loving care and attention until the agency could find a permanent home for them. Many of the babies had some type of physical challenge taking extra care than most. They cared for one little baby boy, Timmy, who ended up being a part of the family for 2-3 years before they adopted Christie. He seemed to blend right in with the family. Christie remembers Timmy being spoken of with tenderness and affection, and although didn’t remember little Timmy very much – the name stuck with her – possibly a partial reason her oldest son now has the same name.
After the girls were older Virginia started working at Lipman’s department store. Later she worked for Meier & Frank in the business office.
They enjoyed being a part of NARVRE in Eugene and attended those functions every month. Even after Myron’s passing Virginia continued to attend the meetings as they had formed a lot of good friendships with other retired railroad workers.
Virginia loved to bake and was known for her delicious meals and pastries – some of which stemming from her Swedish heritage. Cookies, cinnamon rolls, fudge, taffy, and caramel corn were some of the goodies she loved to make. At Christmastime she was well known for her homemade fruitcake, and Spritz cookies. Many of us have fond memory of those. She took delight in baking bread, and later in life purchased a machine that would do the kneading for her – at which point bread making became an even more frequent event.
Since Myron required special meal preparation due to his diabetes, she spent most of the summer growing vegetables, fruit and canning those items – that would better suit his diet. She faithfully prepared and weighed-out a lunch each day for him to brown bag to work and had dinner waiting when he arrived home.
Virginia had a heart to help others and it was common for her to take a neighbor or friend to the doctor on a regular basis, or run errands for shut-ins, and give rides when needed. She had several elderly friends in Eugene that she regular drove to doctors, grocery store and church events.
Virginia loved to sew –we never knew how she acquired her talent, and she made the most incredible garments, doll dresses, draperies, coats, suits, wedding dress, and evening dresses; and many times without a pattern. You could almost wear the garment inside out, because the inside seams were so well crafted and designed that you hardly knew which was in or out. Her motto in sewing, as Christie often heard while under her tutelage in 4-H sewing was, “To make your best better”. This certainly rang true – it was not uncommon to see her removing a seam because it was just a little bit off.
Virginia loved animals – especially Boston Bull Terriers. Both she and Myron had Boston Terriers while growing up so it was no surprise for their home to include them all 56 years of life together. Virginia also enjoyed golden mantle ground squirrels and parakeets.
This is a special memory from Jerine Timpe, former secretary at Eugene Friends Church that was sent to us: “ It was Christmas time and Myron and Virginia were in charge of getting the Christmas tree for the sanctuary. I was in the office when they were putting it up, and as a young married woman, thought they were the perfect couple. I heard them in the sanctuary arguing about putting up the tree, it really made me feel good that everyone is human. Up until that time (I did not grow up in a church) I thought that you had to be perfect to be a Christian and here they were great Christian people who were real. You were lucky to have such great parents. “
In 1967 Myron’s job transferred them to Eugene Oregon where they were active in the
Eugene Friends Church. Virginia turned their corner lot from a very unappealing yard to an incredibly beautiful terraced garden of many flowers and trees.
The last 12 years of her life, Virginia lived in Tacoma near her daughter Sharon, where she continued to live an active life until 2011 when she suffered a stroke that affected her entire right side. After this point her quality of life declined and she was resigned to life in a wheelchair. At this time her life would never continue the same as before and she would be the first to let you know how much she didn’t like it. Virginia had always been very independent and a go-getter – so the refinement of a wheel chair and assisted living care was not one she understood.
Survivors include her two daughters, Sharon Longfellow and Christine Champ, son-in-law, Kelly Champ; 5 grandsons and their families: John David Almond, Peter and Michelle Almond, Timothy and Amanda Champ, Kelly Jr. and Mirna Champ, Bryan and Malia Champ. Great grandchildren: Brittney and Michael Garcia, Jordyn Almond, Erica and Jackson Almond, Nevaeh and Heidi Champ, Elias and Merelise Champ and great-great granddaughter: Ellie Garcia. Many nieces and nephews and their families - and dear friends, Joy Little and Susan Wollander Miller.
An informal get-together to celebrate her life will be held at a later date and this information will be posted at this site when it becomes available.
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