James M. Rashford

James M. Rashford, 89, a longtime Ephrata, Wash. resident,

passed away Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Columbia Basin Hospital in

Ephrata.

James was born Nov. 17, 1921 in Sterling, Colorado to James W. and

Leta (Taylor) Rashford.

James M. Rashford, 89, a longtime Ephrata, Wash. resident, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata.

James was born Nov. 17, 1921 in Sterling, Colorado to James W. and Leta (Taylor) Rashford.

He graduated from Kittitas High School in 1939 and the next year joined the United States Navy and served on the Aleutian Islands as a radio operator during World War II. He graduated from the University of Washington in the spring of 1949 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

On Sept. 3, 1949 he married Dorothy Williams in Tacoma, Wash. They moved to Portland where he worked for the Bonneville Power Administration and in the fall of 1953 moved to Seattle where he worked for Boeing. In August of 1961 he moved his family to Ephrata and worked for AMF as an electrical engineer on the missile silos in the Warden area.

In 1963 Jim got his realtors license and joined Irma Jean Moe at Security Realty, and later for "Tip" Tippets at Reliance Realty. He obtained his brokers license and took over as broker at Reliance Realty in 1970 until his retirement in 2005.

James was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Ephrata.

The vacations with his family included camping, fishing, and backpacking annually until 2006.

James is survived by his wife, Dorothy, at home; sons, Michael and Isabellah Rashford of Kisumu Kenya, East Africa, Paul and Mary Rashford of Redmond, Wash., Lee and Debbie Rashford of Newburg, Ore.; daughters, Jean and Larry Frazier of Moses Lake, Wash., Andrea Starr of Yakima, Wash., Irene and John Kersey of Quincy, Wash., and Carol and Bill Moore of Colfax, Wash.; three brothers; one sister; nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, John; granddaughter, Virginia; and sister, Marguerite.

Rosary services were held Saturday, March 19 at noon at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church with Mass of Christian Burial following at 1 p.m.

If desired, donations can be made to St. Rose of Lima Catholic School or giver's favorite charity.

Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata, is in charge of arrangements.