Arzie James Walters

Arzie James Walters (Jim) age 70 passed away on April 15, 2024 at Avamere Memory Care. 

Jim was born on December 8, 1953 at Osteopathic Hospital in Portland Oregon to his parents Arzie and Madge Walters. Jim graduated from St Helens High School in 1972 where he would run cross country track alongside his classmate Ralph Painter. 

While still going to school, Jim worked at the family machine shop in Warren where he would work many years until he went on to be a shareholder at Multnomah Plywood until their closing. Soon after Jim would find the job that would carry him into retirement after 20 years Jim would retire in 2012 from Dynu Nobel in Deer Island Oregon. His coworkers once told me there was a time during Dyno’s normal scheduled shut down where they were having a bit of a challenge restarting the plant, they needed a part that was not readily available, Jim was asked if he could machine it and of course he did exactly that and they were able to restart the plant. Jim was jack of all trades, master of none. Although he did master the trade of machinist and welding. 

When Jim wasn’t working he an avid fisherman. You could find him on his pontoon boat with his wife Ann and whomever wanted to join him. He would eventually buy a wave runner where he would ride around Sauvie Island with his son. When Jim wasn’t on the water he would be camping in his motorhome near water with Ann. Jim would also always have his 1100 Goldwing Trike nearby for long rides to the mountains where he loved to ride. Jim lived his life to its fullest, that’s for sure. 

Jim is survived by his big brother Robert (Bob) and sister in law Luanna Walters; children Tammy Strader of Milwaukie Oregon, Donna Woods of Scappoose Oregon, Don (Jackie) Melcher of St Helens and Jack (Leona) McCann of St Helens Oregon and Jamie (Josh) Russell of Columbia City Oregon as well as numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of over 40 years, his daughter Sheryl Williams, big sister Jean Smith and brother in law Gerald Smith as well as parents Arzie F. and Madge Walters.