James "Jim" Arthur Noyes

The life journey of James Arthur Noyes began on October 16, 1933, in York, Nebraska, where he was the second born son of Wilfred Carol Noyes and Margaret Alice (Powers) Noyes. His early years were spent on a small farm, where his father also ran a garage — a modest beginning that gave way to a big life.

At age 7, following his parents’ divorce, Jim and family moved to Seattle, Washington, settling in Wallingford. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1951, where he was in the band and began a lifelong love affair with music. After high school, he worked various jobs, one being the night shift at a local bakery while attending the University of Washington.

His musical talents took him to the U.S. Army, where he served 3 years active duty, followed by 5 years in the reserves. Much to the surprise of anyone familiar with Jim's sense of humor, he earned the Army Good Conduct Medal and was honorably discharged in 1962.

Jim resumed civilian life and studies at University of Washington as well as attending Western Washington University with plans to become a biology teacher. But his path changed direction when he was offered a chance to sell Watkins (health remedies, baking products, and other household items) products in Coos Bay. He packed up his young family, moved to Oregon, and began selling Watkins door to door - his young daughters often in the back of his car - where he found his other talent, sales. His success led him to a long, satisfying career as an agent for State Farm Insurance.

Moving back to Seattle, Jim's natural competitive nature led him to build a thriving insurance business. During his 43 years with State Farm, he earned numerous trips to popular vacation spots all over the world. Trips that were not only rewards for shattering sales records but places where he practiced his love of bartering with local vendors. He was more excited about the deal he got, rather than the item he purchased. His talent for connecting with people was unmatched. He remembered names, addresses, and stories of his clients decades later. At age 90, driving through Seattle, he could point out houses he insured and recount the lives that filled them.

Playing and thinking about music was always present in Jim’s life. While his “official” music career ended with the Army, he continued playing music. Whether on string bass or tuba, he was a fixture in the Seattle folk and Scandinavian music scenes. He performed with groups like the Folk Voice Band, Skandia Kapell, the Mountaineers, even playing in the Letter Carriers Band — despite never delivering a single piece of mail. For many years, he ushered in the summer solstice by sounding the Lur at Midsummer Fest celebrations for Seattle’s Skandia community.

He not only played folk music, he danced as well. Attending weekly Skandia dances and the Mountaineer's monthly ball. His dancing style paralleled his life in that during a dance, where walking is a small break to rest, instead, he would keep spinning his partner to the end of the song. Many dances like the Snoa or Hambo, took stamina and talent, Jim had both.

Jim wasn’t one to sit still. For years, he would be on Green Lake a block or so from his office, windsurfing during lunch breaks. He scuba dived and on his 60th birthday he went skydiving. Once, he snuck out to bungee jump without telling his wife. But more than anywhere else, Jim felt at home in the mountains or on the water. A lifelong skier, he hit the slopes well into his 80s, mostly in the Cascades at the Mountaineer's Meany Lodge where he was a regular for several decades. As a fisherman, he took nearly every Thursday off to fish and crab the Puget Sound, later taking trips to Westport, Canada, and Alaska. His 66-pound King Salmon from Rivers Inlet, B.C., the crowning catch, still hangs in the living room.

Over the past 35 years, Jim and wife, Margaret, fostered countless medically fragile infants. There was hardly a time when their house didn't have baby toys laying about or each car didn't have at least one child safety seat in the back.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents; his son Arthur Noyes; grandson Alexander Snyder; son-in-law Harry Snyder; and brother Bill Noyes. He is survived by Margaret Ann Noyes, his wife of 53 years; Children: Deborah Diemer, Dalene Cothran, Michelle Olafsson, Suzanne Peterson, Donald Noyes, Paula Porter, Joseph Armand, Daniel Noyes, and Devon Noyes; Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; And cousin Marilyn Nielsen.

Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Evergreen Funeral Home, followed by Graveside Service at Evergreen Cemetery - 4504 Broadway, Everett WA 98203.

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Memory of Me

I'd like the memory of me

To be a happy one.

I'd like to leave an afterglow

of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo whispering

Softly down the ways.

of happy times and laughing times

And bright sunny days.

I'd like the tears of those who grieve,

To dry before the sun

of happy memories that I leave

When life is done.