Jim Gordon Dayton

In between those interruptions, Jim was often dropping in on friends and family for a cup of coffee and to say hello, only to stay and help with whatever project needed two more hands. Jim had visited two or three of his friends and his nephew in the week before his final visit to the hospital.

Jim (“Jimmy” or “Bud”) had been raised by his parents, Mildred and Gordon Dayton, a machinist, gunsmith, and master carpenter whose craftsmanship carried on through Jim’s work. He graduated from Washington High School, served in the National Guard, and worked selling automotive and boat motor parts in his younger years where he met many of his life-long “motor-head” friends.

In the late 1970s, he began work as a remodeling contractor, where he would meet many more long-time customers and friends. He employed his nephews for summer work painting and building decks and fences. Days usually began BSing with friends at the lumberyard, plumbing supply, or paint store. Once a week, it started with breakfast at Sam’s Billiards, with a group of car buddies. Sometimes work was put on hold for a nice day of fishing.

In later years, after retiring from business, Jim enjoyed reading Tom Clancy and Lee Child adventures, but his main hobby had always been rebuilding cars: among them a ’54 Chevy truck, a couple of Mustangs, a Corvette Stingray, a ‘30s Ford hotrod, and his latest, a ’61 Ford Ranch Wagon.

Jim and his wife, Krys (Krystyna Bujak), who enchanted him by racing her Mercury Cougar at Portland Speedway, have kept a beautiful home for more than 40 years where they raised their son, Aaron, to whom he passed on his love of building cars.

Jim leaves his wife Krys, son Aaron (of Portland), sister Gini Moldovanyi (of Gresham), and nephews Brad and Mike Filbert, as well as countless dear friends all over the Portland area who will miss his jokes, his fussiness, and his willingness to just hang out with people and lend a hand when needed.