James G Crakes

James Grant Crakes was born in Eugene, Oregon, on August 2, 1929. He and his sister Jean were raised there by their parents, Raymond Grant and Mildred Marie (nee Rickabaugh) Crakes. Jim earned his B.S., M.S. and PhD in Physical Education at the University of Oregon, and his Physical Therapy Certification at NYU. Jim married Donna Jean Dettrich in 1957, and along with their children, they moved to southern California in 1960, and then to Point Loma in 1967. Professionally, Jim was a successful teacher and coach, and was a role model and mentor to many. He taught and coached cross country and track & field at Cal State LA, Cal Western University, USIU and Point Loma Nazarene University. He was named NAIA Cross Country and/or Track & Field District Coach of the Year numerous times, and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1990. Jim was honored as the first professor emeritus in physical education at PLNU. Personally, Jim was dedicated to his family, friends and community. He held numerous leadership positions at his church where he belonged for 48 years. He loved to sing and play the piano, and encouraged this love of music in his children and grandchildren. He also loved to travel, taking track teams and family all over the world. His other favorite pastimes included bird watching over Sunset Cliffs and in his own backyard, playing Boggle with Donna, jogging, photographing nature, and writing prose and poetry. During his retirement years, Jim led local charitable efforts to better the lives of the homeless and the elderly. His favorite volunteer effort, however, may have been tutoring and playing word games with students at Ocean Beach Elementary, which he did for nearly two decades. Jim passed away peacefully on May 7, 2015, in San Diego. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Donna, son James II, daughters Julie and Lynn, sister Jean, son-in-law Todd, daughter-in-law Ailene, granddaughters Nicole, Kate, Allison and Meaghan, grandsons Michael and Sean and many other beloved family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on May 26, 2015, at Point Loma United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego. Memorial donations may be made to the James G. Crakes Memorial Fund, c/o PLUMC, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107.