James Edwin Nelson

Jim was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to Edna and Edwin S. Nelson. The family moved to Los Angeles, CA when he was two years old and nine when they moved to Seattle, WA which remained his home until he and his wife, Patsy, moved to Las Cruces, NM in February of this year.

He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the Navy. After basic training and attending a special electrician training school in Farragut, ID, he was shipped to the Philippine Islands. The Japanese surrendered while he was there and he was transferred to Japan as part of the occupational force. Jim then volunteered for hazardous duty with the Guinea Pig Squadron. This was comprised of two old freighters and a former transport ship, Pratt Victory, which Jim was assigned. The Pratt Victory eventually brought Jim all the way home to Seattle where it docked under the Aurora Bridge - walking distance to his family home.

After discharge, with the help of the G.I. Bill, Jim attended the University of Washington and graduated from the School of Law in 1953. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta and Phi Delta Phi Fraternities serving as social chairman. He thoroughly enjoyed his college days and the lifelong friends he made among fraternity brothers. Some of his favorite memories from those years were the summers between semesters when he worked at Yellowstone National Park. He talked of those days throughout his life.

Right after graduation from college, he was hired by a large local law firm but he found that he still had a lot to learn. The opportunity opened for him to join the Office of the Washington State Attorney General. While serving under Attorney Generals Don Eastvold and John J. O'Connell, he discovered his passion for trial work. He tried lawsuits all over Washington while working there and loved it.

In 1962, he joined the legal staff of the Western Office of the Milwaukee Railroad. After a few years, he became Western Council in charge of their lawsuits in the northwest states; Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He tried cases before the Washington State Supreme Court, US Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals and the Interstate Commerce Commission. He was always proud that he could make friends of his opposing attorneys.

Through the years, he was active in the King County Bar Assoc. serving as Program Chairman, Washington State Bar Assoc., Young Men's Business Assoc. serving as President, Young Republicans, Toys for Tots, Junior Club, and the Seattle Opera as a supernumerary among others.

He married Patsy Wright in 1975. They enjoyed so many of the same things including travel. They visited many places throughout the USA and around the world, always looking for the next place to visit. When his health began to fail making it harder to travel, they started taking cruises. He enjoyed time at their cabin in Eastern Washington and winters at their condo in Palm Springs, CA.

Jim always looked back on his life with gratitude. He loved everything he had done from his time in the Navy, college days, profession, his jobs, friends, and family. He was so grateful to his parents for their guidance and good advice while he was growing up. His father was the man he most admired and thought him to be the nicest man he ever knew.

Jim leaves behind his wife, Patsy, two nieces, two grandnieces and four grandnephews.

Jim's interment will be at Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, WA. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The American Diabetes Foundation is suggested for anyone wishing to make a donation. Any messages can be sent to P.O. Box 99125, Seattle, WA 98139.

Reception at Palisade Restaurant on Elliott Bay Marina on

Saturday, October 21, 2017 from

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

for any friends who would like to

share a Jim Nelson story or raise a glass and toast to his long life.

Burial arrangements under the direction of Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home.