James Elihu Gavin

James E. Gavin of Mill Creek, WA died April 3, 2021 at age 97. He was born September 18, 1923 in Formoso, Kansas, the first son of Jackson and Florence Gavin. He graduated from Formoso High School in 1942 and attended one year at Fort Hayes State Teachers College in Western Kansas. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve V12 program and attended Officer School in Chicago, Illinois. On January 18, 1945 he graduated as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve at 4 pm and at 8 pm he married his high school sweetheart, Normagene E. Balch. They had their “honeymoon” in Yorktown, VA where he attended the Navy Mine Warfare School. After graduation they flew to San Francisco, CA for him to await a transport ship to sail overseas. The day came, he shipped out, and his wife went to live with her parents in Yakima Valley, WA. He spent his Naval career in the South Pacific in the Philippine Island area on ComPac 7th Fleet Minesweepers. After WWII ended, he returned to the U.S. in April of 1946 and joined his wife in the Yakima, WA area. They farmed a short time and then Jim entered the University of Washington to finish his degree in Electrical Engineering. He earned his BSEE in 1950 and spent his career working in the Seattle area. He worked for Boeing a short time, IBM for three years and the rest of the time for Honeywell Marine Systems Center where he retired as a Chief Engineer in March of 1988. He did volunteer work for Junior Achievement and the Washington State Chapter of the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation (WSNF) winning an achievement award for his service on the WSNF Board of Directors and serving as treasurer for many years. He was an active member of Edmonds United Methodist Church. He was a Lifetime Member of Richmond-Haller Lake Masonic Lodge #248, University Chapter #32 Royal Arch Masons, Seattle Council #6, Rainier Commandery #28 KT and the Nile Shrine where he participated in the steam calliope group that participated in parades and events for children. For fun, he and his wife Normagene spent many hours trailering in the Pacific Northwest with their trailer group; they also traveled to Europe, the Caribbean, Panama, and Alaska; and worked in the yard of their Edmonds house growing beautiful roses. Most of his and Normagene’s life was spent in Edmonds Washington, eventually leaving Edmonds in 2018 for a Mill Creek, Washington senior residence to be closer to their daughter Deanna and grandkids. He was preceded in death by his wife Normagene, his parents, his brother Carl Gavin and his sister Ora Allen. He is survived by his daughter Deanna J. Miyamoto, her husband Robert and two granddaughters, Tamra and Leah Miyamoto. With the ongoing state mandates for social distancing, a private graveside memorial service will be held in the future. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Children in care of the Nile Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., 6601 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-2750.