The children and family of James A “Jim” Sutherby are sorry to announce his passing on Sept. 17, at Capital Medical Center.

Jim was born April 17, 1927. in Satsop, Washington. to Art and Nellie Sutherby.

He was a graduate of Elma High School, where he was a varsity football player. His military service was an adventure as he wanted to join the Seabees to further his education in heavy equipment operation, but they were not in need of recruits at that time nor was the Navy, so he joined the Army and the adventure begins. Soon after there was a call for volunteers to join the Navy and he was selected and now was off to the South Pacific. While there, there was a call to join the Seabees and he was again selected. Thus the beginning of a lifelong career as a heavy equipment operator.

He was a retired 69-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 302 in Seattle.

Highlights of his career include: four tours on the Trans Alaska Pipeline, Satsop nuclear powerplant, worked on the gas line to bring natural gas to Grays Harbor and he worked on the freeway into and through Grays Harbor into Aberdeen. He was the excavation foreman for Dravo Company building the Wynooche Dam.

After leaving the service he married Patsy Jean “Pat” Avey in McCleary in 1948. Together they had five children. Jim’s work led to their first home in Shaffer Brothers logging camp and then to Camp Grisdale. While in Grisdale, Jim was instrumental in bringing cable to the camp. He was also a Boy Scout leader for several years.

Jim began building race cars in the late 1950s and enjoyed dirt track racing at the old half-mile track at the Elma fairgrounds. In 1961 the family moved to Brady.

He served on the Evergreen Auto Racing Association (EARA) Board of Directors for several years before being elected president where he served for 12 years. He was in the first class of inductees voted into the EARA Hall of Fame.

Jim was also a charter member of the Brady Fire Department, where he served for 25 years — 14 years as chief.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, of 69 years; his parents, Art and Nellie, and a brother, Roland.

He is survived by Randy Sutherby of Montesano, Sandra Wixon of Aberdeen, Jack (Sheridan) Sutherby of Elma, Brian (Lisa) Sutherby of Elma and Scott Sutherby of Kalama, a brother and sister-in-law, Leroy and Diane Avey of McCleary, along with 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, at the Montesano United Methodist Church, 401 E Spruce Ave. Montesano. A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. at the Wynooche Cemetery.

The family asks that any donations be made to the Methodist Church in Montesano or the Brady Fire Department.