James McCord Bigelow passed away July 13, 2022, from a stroke, just days away from his 89th birthday. Jim was best-in-class as a person, husband, father, and grandfather. He was perhaps the kindest person many of us ever encountered, but was also accomplished, humble, and compassionate with movie-star good looks and a dazzling smile.
Jim was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. on July 25, 1935, to Maurice and Marion Bigelow. He was the middle child of their three boys - Tom, Jim, and Jeff.
Jim graduated from Shaler High School in 1951 as an accomplished student, senior class president and athlete. He excelled as a shortstop in baseball and was invited to tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played on the all-star regional hockey squad, but his real love was football. Jim received a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame where he played varsity all four years and was part of two national championship teams as a quarterback and punter. He made lifelong friends during his time at Notre Dame as well as meeting the love of his life, Maureen Riley.
Upon college graduation in 1955, Jim served in the Army as a lieutenant in Stuttgart, Germany for two years. After completion of his military service, he began a 13-year career with General Motors.
He married Maureen on September 5,1959 at Sacred Heart Basilica at the University of Notre Dame. A promotion from GM took Jim and Maureen to Mercer Island where they welcomed their first daughter, Catherine, in 1960. Afterward they bought their first home in Bellevue and had daughters Susan in 1962 and Anne in 1963. They made lifelong friends during this special time as a young family.
Another GM promotion took the family to Detroit in 1967. Jim made a career change in 1969 due to Maureen's acute rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis at the age of 33. He was offered a role in a family-run wholesale automotive business and moved the family to Yakima. Jim had a 32-year career with the company, then worked for five years at Irwin International before retiring. In later years, he had part-time jobs, but his favorite was at the Apple Tree Golf Course Pro Shop. Not only could he see people coming in for a fun day, but he could golf for free! Jim worked there until he was 84.
Jim and his family thrived in Yakima where they built a large community of friends through swim team, skiing, golf, church, and volunteer organizations. He was a member of the Yakima Tennis Club, the Lions Club, and Rotary, where he served as president. He was also president of the Washington Automotive Wholesalers Association and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Jim was also an active member of First Presbyterian/Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church and had a deep, abiding faith that was reflected by his love and compassion for others.
Jim was an avid skier and in retirement he hit the slopes of White Pass weekly until the age of 80. He was also a 4.0 tennis player, passionate golfer, meticulous gardener, and fitness enthusiast who worked out daily.
After Maureen passed away in 2018, Jim moved to Living Care Retirement Community where he flourished and continued to make new friends. He enjoyed the lively conversation with his dinner table partners immensely. Jim maintained his 52-year tradition of meeting his buddies for coffee every morning at 10.
Jim was a loyal friend and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and Maureen had 59 years together. He loved his wife, three daughters and 10 grandchildren, who called him "Bop." Jim took great pride in the accomplishments of his kids and grandkids and was always quick to offer his love and support.
Jim made you feel like the most important person in the room. He was genuinely glad to see you, no matter who you were. Not one to criticize or judge, Jim greeted you with a smile and positive attitude. He was sensitive to all things around him and routinely offered to make your day better, without consideration of himself. He was one of the "great ones" who never said an unkind word about anyone. As his former boss wrote, "If the world was full of Jim Bigelow's, we would all be okay." Jim deserves the best place in heaven and most assuredly arrived there on the 6:08 pm Express on July 13, 2022, with that shining smile upon his face - reflected back to us all with the incredible supermoon that night.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Maureen, daughter Catherine Gullickson, his parents, brothers Tom and Jeff, mother-in-law Rose Riley, and sister-in-law Rosemarie Sheehan.
Jim is survived by his daughters Susan (James) Naughton of Yakima, Anne (Mike) Seifert of Singapore, and son-in-law Jeff Gullickson of Westlake Village, CA; his grandchildren Anna Gullickson (Scott) Doerner, Ben, Peter, and Conrad Gullickson; Hannah, Lily, and Fiona Naughton; and Madeline, Matthew, and Catherine Seifert; his nieces Tammy Gumpert, Duncan Preston, Amy Baer, and Lori Giardina; cousins Lee, Todd, Mark, and Nancy Stevenson and brother-in-law Phil (Sheila) Riley and their four children, and sister-in-law Kay (Jim) Waters and their four children.
A memorial will be held Saturday, August 27th at 11:00 AM at Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church, 9 S. 8th Street, Yakima, WA. A reception at the church hall will follow the ceremony. Donations may be made to the Catherine Bigelow Gullickson Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Portland, https://www.giving.up.edu/s/1797/interior.aspx?sid=1797&gid=2&pgid=995, or to the charity of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Bigelow family.
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