James Waterman

James (Jim) Eugene Waterman of Moscow Idaho passed away on Saturday March 9th, 2024, after reaching the age of 88 years old. Jim suffered a stroke 7 years ago and while life has been difficult since then he always had a positive attitude. He was cared for by his wife Barbara Waterman in their home and that is where he peacefully entered the Kingdom of God.

Jim was born on January 8th, 1936, in Baker Oregon to Al Owen Waterman and Dona Isabel Waterman. Al was a Nazarene pastor which moved the family all around the west. The family ended up settling in Moscow Idaho where Jim attended Moscow High School. Jim was the youngest son of five children.

In 1959 Jim met a beautiful beautician named Barbara Bardwell. The couple married on October 8th, 1960, after dating for a year. They had two children Natalie Ann born on January 9th, 1962, and Brian James born on February 28th, 1964. Jim and Barbara were married for 63 years. As a young man Jim drove logging trucks for Keck Logging. He later took a job with the Idaho State Highway department only to then return to the forest to be a logger once again. In his later years Jim was a painter for Washington State University where he retired in 1995.

Jim loved to be outside with his family and friends. His favorite activities were camping, fishing, hunting, four wheeling and spending time in his garden. As a child his granddaughter Mel remembers spending hours in the garden with her Papa learning how to grow food and take care of the soil. Jim and his wife Barbara started every morning outside with a walk and then reading their Bible’s. They loved to have that time together to connect and get closer to God.

Jim was always a storyteller. He loved to share his life experiences with the people around him. If Jim was telling a funny story good luck catching all the details, he would be laughing and crying so hard you could only understand every third word. Jim had a love and passion for life that everyone could see in the joy he carried around every day. Even at the end of his life when his great granddaughters, Emma and Maggie, would walk in the room Jim’s face would light up. He loved and cared for his family above all else.

He is preceded in death by parents Al and Dona Waterman. By all his siblings Norma Lee, her husband Rocky, Paul and his wife June, David, Louise and her husband Arlen, and Jim’s son Brian.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Barbara and his daughter Natalie and her husband Lee. Also, his granddaughter Mel and her wife Regina, his great granddaughters Emma and Maggie.

The family is having a private service to honor Jim’s life.

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