James Taylor Bennett

Jim was born on March 22, 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Vivian and James Bennett. He was the youngest of 6 children.

Jim graduated from Indiana High School, where he met his high school sweetheart, future bride and love of his life, Susan Cope. Jim was both a good student and a standout on the high school football team. After graduation, Jim attended Carnegie Mellon University, playing football for the Carnegie Mellon Tartans. Jim finished his education at the University of Colorado, earning his bachelor’s degree in Business. He spent most of his working career with the Frito-Lay Corporation, retiring as a Zone Operations Manager in 2017.

Jim and Sue were married on March 27, 1982, beginning a lifelong journey together that included raising their two daughters, Kristen and Katie. Their travels took them from Boulder, CO to Billings, MT to Spokane and Vancouver WA, finally moving to Mukilteo in 1999.

For Jim, family always came first. Above all else, he loved being a caring husband and energetic father, and in retirement found another role he absolutely cherished: being “Papa” to his first grandchild Ella. Jim completely immersed himself in this role as his main and favorite retirement “hobby.” He loved walking with Ella to the park, reading her favorite books to her, building “interpretive” Play-Doh statues with her, and playing his guitar for her entertainment. Jim was very excited about welcoming two new granddaughters into the world later this year, already planning puppet shows, tea parties, and more guitar concerts.

Jim was always genuinely friendly and easygoing, and had a natural ability to make others feel happy and welcome. He had a great sense of humor, a child’s enthusiasm for having fun, an innate brilliance for solving problems, and an uncanny ability to build, repair or assemble anything. Jim took great joy in life’s small moments and little things, and he always found a way to enjoy and see the humor in any situation. He was an inspiration, and his good nature firmly anchored his family and those who knew him. He was deeply loved by his family and siblings.

Jim’s humor, loving heart, and jovial spirit live on in his wife, Susan Bennett, daughters Kristen Bennett and Katie Wiegand, son-in-law Sean Wiegand, granddaughter Ella Wiegand, and siblings Mary Etta Goes, Carl Bennett, Deborah Williams, Rita Allee, and Kirk Bennett.

No services at his request. Remembrance may be made in Jim’s name to the American Heart Association.