Justine Eugene “Butch” James, Sr., 77 years of age and a lifetime Taholah, Wash., area resident, died on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, Wash.

He was born on June 28, 1939, in Taholah, Wash., to David Elmer Cleveland James and Clara Bremner. On March 23, 1956, he and Christine Mae Purdy were married. They were later divorced.

Justine was an avid outdoorsman his entire life, especially in his youth, hunting and fishing throughout the entire Quinault watershed, primarily in the Upper Quinault River and the Lake Quinault areas. He was one of the last tribal members that pursued treaty rights to hunt the Olympic Mountains with the blessings of the Quinault Park Ranger. Despite his fragile health, he continued to hunt until his final days. He was from the generation that lived off the land and shared nature’s bounty with one and all, especially tribal elders and for Shaker Church functions.

Justine teamed with Joe DeLaCruz to implement much of the infrastructure for today’s Quinault Indian Nation tribal government in the late 1960’s. James “Jughead” Jackson recruited them both to be the leaders for the new age tribal government in the late 1960’s.

He had worked as a law enforcement officer, had been Chief of Police, was a County Deputy Sheriff, had been the Vice Chairman of the Quinault Indian Nation and retired as a logger. In 1963, he set an unsurpassed record by cutting 70 squares in a six-hour shift at the L.J. Esses Shingle Mill. He also worked for the Washington State Fish and Wildlife, surveying streams and recommended the sites for the current Tribal Fish hatcheries at Salmon River and Cook Creek.

Butch was a member of the 1910 Shaker Church and took part in services in many locations.

He was a kind hearted man that was always willing to help people in need. Due to his extensive participation in the formative years of the Quinault Tribal Government and knowledge of local history, policy development and status as Tribal Elder, many tribal members and leaders sought his guidance in tribal affairs, natural resource issues and legal advice. He was also an avid supporter of Chitwhins youth sporting activities.

Surviving relatives include two sons, Justine E. James, Jr. of Taholah and Larry R. James of Loon Lake, Wash.; daughters, Bridget Y. Krukoff of Taholah, Cheri J. Quilt of Taholah, Felicity J. Anderson of Taholah, Rebecca James of Shelton; companion, Marianne Koontz of Taholah; step-daughters, Vera Howard, Wanda Brown, and Diana Mix; sisters, Alice DeRoche and Leah Crossguns, step sister, Celestine “Suedee” Hicks; half-sisters, Alfreda LaBounte, Veronica “Mice” James, Janice Billy and Jesse DeMaris; step-brother, Delmar Colegrove; half-brother, Malcolm Hagberg, 16 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren and nine step-grandchildren. His extended family includes Ervin Obi, Carla Purdy, Kyle Brown, and J.C. Many White Horses and Paul VanMechlan.

Justine was preceded by a son, Hugh M. James; a brother, David “Shileb” James and a step-brother, Chesaldine Colegrove; two half sisters, Iris Vitalis and Toni J. Purdy and two grandchildren.

A Candlelight Service will be held at 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel in Hoquiam.

An Indian Shaker Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel in Hoquiam. Concluding service with vault interment will follow in the Taholah Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.