James F. “Jim” Godier died on Dec. 12, 2020 surrounded by the family he loved at the age of 81.
He was born on Feb. 6, 1939 to Frank and Agnes Wood Godier in Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
Jim was born with a drive to understand and solve, and mechanics were his passion. His drive to solve related to every aspect of life, beginning with his life partner. He met and earned the love and devotion of a good woman that lasted a lifetime. Jim married the love of his life, Elaine Doney, on July 12, 1958 in Hermiston. Together they loved and raised three children, 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
The first 10 years of Jim and Elaine’s marriage, he worked as a union ironworker in Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Idaho, and the young family moved a lot. When the children became school age they returned to Hermiston, where they made their home a lifelong fixture on Hartley Avenue. Jim’s welding and ironworking career came in handy when he purchased Hermiston’s Shell station, working as owner and shop mechanic. Jim had the ability to simply read a manual and completely rebuild anything, from a VW Bug to a D-8 Cat, including any structural welding repairs.
When his kids were grown he returned to ironworking, with the years before retirement spent at the Hanford, Wash. nuclear site. Upon his retirement, Hanford site engineers wrote testimonials of his capabilities, and how all their training still left them depending on his advice and approval before beginning million-dollar builds. His voracious mind catapulted his humble background and education far beyond normal expectation, in anything he was passionate about. He called this savvy and knowhow, and he had it in abundance.
Jim was a life-long elk and deer hunter. He hunted as a young man with Elaine’s family, learning from them, and passed that passion and skill down to his children, grandchildren and countless friends.
Along the way he crafted his love for horses into becoming an admired and respected horseman. He was not raised with horses, and his drive to understand led him to legendary horse trainers Elwin Hall and Harry Noble, whom he learned from and became lifelong friends with. His brief foray into the rodeo world led him to a championship wild horse race buckle at the Pendleton Round-Up in 1972.
Jim was always a teacher. He loved nothing more than to share his knowledge and understanding with those around him. He took great pride in always being capable and making capable people out of those he touched. He believed in hard work and above all else, extending a helping hand to those in need. He belonged to many organizations over the years to donate his time and skills to. He loved to work with the Boy Scouts and FFA, and was a lifetime member of the Masons and Shriners. He had a special passion for helping children, participating in countless parades and food caravans for the masonic lodge and Shriners Children’s Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine Doney Godier; daughters, Jamie (James) Jundt and Julie (Steve) Later; son, John Godier; grandchildren, Ryan James Jundt, Joe (Beth) Jundt, Garrett (Chelsey) Later, Kylie (Allen) Baker, Taylor Godier, Summer Godier, Dezi (Tyler) Schwirse, Shasta Jundt, Macy Jundt, Nathaniel Jundt, Angie Jundt and Luke Jundt; and 12 great grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his two younger brothers, Robert and William Godier.
A private family burial will be held at the Hermiston Cemetery.
