Jim Romans October 6, 1939 - January 8, 2017

Jim Romans passed away peacefully from cancer on Jan. 8 in Gilbert, Ariz. Jim moved to Arizona in August 2016 to be near his son Bryce and daughter-in-law Patsy.

Jim was born on Oct. 6, 1939 in Buhl, Idaho. After he was adopted at age 6, his family lived and farmed in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho. After finishing high school, Jim served in the Navy before returning to Twin Falls, Idaho. There he started working for Gallatin Valley Seed and then Rogers Brothers Seed in the pea and bean seed warehouse. Jim was known as an expert at setting up cleaning equipment and electric eye color sorting machines to recover the most seed of superior quality. In 1985 Jim moved to Othello, Wash. and continued working for Rogers Brothers until switching to Grant County Warehouse in the early 1990s. He then helped to start up ProGene Plant Research, where he continued to work as warehouse manager until he retired at age 69.

Jim had many friends in Othello and was often known as “Walking” Jim. His friends knew him as a kind and giving person and a hard worker. Jim loved old cars, especially 1949 Mercury, and he had an old coin collection and enjoyed country music. He also enjoyed reading National Geographic, history and auto magazines. Jim was always surrounded by animals and his favorite getaway was the quiet of the mountains.

It is no surprise that his favorite foods were pizza, and chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream topped with chocolate syrup. He enjoyed all foods except cottage cheese.

Jim will be remembered by his family and friends as a person who lived an independent life and who was kind and loyal. He always looked on the brighter side of life and was thankful for those who cared about him. We will all miss his big smile, his stories and his quick wit.

Services were handled by Meldrum Mortuary in Mesa, Ariz. Condolences and any thoughts you might want to leave for Bryce and Patsy can be posted by going to the mortuary website www.meldrummortuary.com/obituaries and finding the guestbook for Jim Romans.