JAMES "JIM" THOMPSON DERRY
April 6, 1925 ~ July 14, 2013
James "Jim" Derry, 88, of Vancouver, passed away on Sunday morning, July 14, 2013, in Vancouver, Washington. He was born April 6, 1925 to Gordon M. and Ellen Jeanette Derry in Mayville, Michigan.
Jim attended Mayville High School, Ferris State University, and the University of Michigan.
Jim enlisted in the Marines at age 19 and served in World War II. He was wounded while serving in Saipan and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts.
After the service, Jim returned to Michigan and was the Deputy Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department in Farmington.
Jim then became employed by the U.S. Department of Defense working in Taiwan and Japan.
Jim was an active member of Trout Unlimited starting the Vancouver Chapter and served on the State Hearing Aid Council in Olympia.
Jim attended First Baptist Church in Vancouver, WA.
He is survived by his loving wife, Julia; two daughters, Kristine Strauss and husband, Jim of Indianapolis, Indiana and Sandra Derry of Sterling Heights, Michigan; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Ellen Jeanette Derry; and his late wife, Matsuyo.
A memorial service will be held in his honor at First Baptist Church, 108 W. 27th, Vancouver, WA on Wednesday, July 17th at 10 a.m.
Private interment at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Vancouver, WA.
Please sign his Guest Book at www.columbian.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
The Marines and Corpsmen of the Pierce County Detachment #504 Marine Corps League, Share in Your Loss. Rest in Peace Marine, Semper Fi!
George Hilbish
July 22, 2013
May Julia and others who knew, loved and respected Jim be comforted by knowing that Jim is now in God's presence with those who passed before him. Jim was a tremendous friend and colleague who loved his family. His love of fly fishing and travelling the world brought him great pleasure. Jim touched the very souls of those he crossed paths with during his nearly nine decades on planet earth. Jim will be missed, but never forgotten
Jim Wilcox
July 18, 2013
May the memory of Jimmy always be with his loved ones,Julia,Kriss & Sandy.
may God grant all of you healing in this time of loss of a true American.
Love,
Cousin Richard
July 18, 2013
All of us who enjoy fishing the Upper North Fork Lewis River are better off because of the efforts of Jim Derry.
Jim was passionate about the Upper Lewis River and spent a tremendous amount of time working to protect the watershed. Jim was the driving force (through persistence and tenacity, which should surprise no one) in changing the fishing regulations the Upper Lewis River. These regulation changes helped protect the rivers threatened bull trout and created 135 miles of Blue Ribbon Trout Fishing.
Paul Dunlap
July 16, 2013
Our heart felt sorrow as we will miss our good neighbor and friend.
Dave and Judy Gearhart
July 16, 2013
Julia, I am so sorry about your husband. I haven't seen you at the pool for a long time and have been praying for you and your husband.
Mary
July 16, 2013
My sympathies to Julia and the rest of Jim's family. He was a great source of information and entertainment at the Vancouver (now known as the Clark County) Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He will be greatly missed.
Tammy Mackey
July 16, 2013
Our deepest sympathy to Julia and Jim's family.
Jim was a Great Friend to us and many others.
We will miss him always.
Tatyana & Jerry Becker
July 16, 2013
I will miss Jim. I knew Jim from his community service with Trout Unlimited and at Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center. I also knew him politically---he was always good to me and was always interested in what more he could do to help others. I will miss Jim...I wish I would have stopped by the house and visited more often than I did.
Dean Sutherland
July 16, 2013
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