James Everett Cummings

James Everett Cummings, 95, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Prestige Post-Acute and Rehab Center in Ellensburg, Washington. Jim was born on Veterans Day, November 11, 1927, in Everett, WA, to Roy and Gladys (Lee) Cummings. He was raised in Everett, Snoqualmie Falls, and Monroe, WA.

Jim wrote about many memories of his life. During his childhood, He remembered fondly listening Amos and Andy, I Love a Mystery, and The Inner Sanctum, on the radio, as they had no television in those days. He remembers going to the community hall across from the orchard where they lived, to watch talkies, and that the movies were free. When asked if they had running water in their house growing up, Jim replied that they sure did. He’d take a couple of buckets down to the creek, fill them up with water, and then run back to the house.

He remembered going fishing as a boy at the local creek and caught the biggest fish he’d ever caught. He headed home carrying that fish in one hand and he hung the fishing pole over his shoulder. The hook came loose and flipped around and snagged his nose. He continued to the house and his mom insisted on taking him to the doctor’s. He remembers telling the doctor, “Doc, just cut it out”, and that’s just what the doctor did, leaving a scar to remember the day.

Jim recalled that his dad worked in the orchards and then the sawmill and made .15c per hour. He said that things were tight, but they all worked hard and got by.

Jim left home at the age of 14 and hitched a ride across Snoqualmie Pass to stay with friends in Ellensburg. Jim’s friends lived near the 8th Avenue train tracks on the east side of town. He said on the first night, when the train whistle blew, he came right up out of bed, thinking that train was coming right through the bedroom.

Jim also stayed, for a time, at the Ellensburg YMCA for .50 per night. He eventually lived with the Lyons family on River Bottom Road. He earned money by picking potatoes on a farm in the Badger Pocket area and spoke of working at Bozman Cannery. He also worked for Balcom and Moe, and for Carl Mackner, and he washed cars for Mr. Kelleher at the Ford Garage. He talked about “The Nifty” a barbershop on main street, Crittenden’s store, the HiWay Grille, Pix Theatre and Vails grocery. Jim also remembered shooting his first deer in the Manastash Canyon.

Jim attended Ellensburg High School but left school to return to the westside and worked in the Seattle Shipyards. He was 16. He remembers making .90 per hour and thought that he’d died and gone to heaven! That was big money for a 16-year-old.

On September 12, 1945, at the age of 17, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Marine Division, at Seattle, WA. He reported to San Diego, California where he trained at Camp Delmar on the LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked), an amphibious vehicle, which was essential to the US forces during the second world war in the Pacific. The vessel had the ability to travel both in and out of the water and was one of the first true amphibious vehicles. Jim served in Hawaii, Guam, and Japan. Then in 1948, his orders took him back to the states to serve as a Navy prison guard at Terminal Island Military Prison in San Pedro, CA. He served there during the last year of his four-year hitch. During this time, Jim took a GED test through the CWCE (Center for Workforce and Community Education) and received his diploma from Ellensburg High School, class of 1948. Jim was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp in 1949 and joined the US Marine Corps Reserve.

Then, in 1950, Jim started attending college at Seattle Pacific College, however, after only a few weeks, he received orders from the Marine Corp, calling him back to active duty and he reported to serve in Korea during the Korean War. He recalled when his LVT division landed at Pohang, Korea and they were met with 4-6 inches of snow. When they asked the Sargent where they were to sleep, he said “on the ground”. When they asked about the snow, and the Sargent said “just scrape it back with your Mickey Mouse boots”. Someone soon came along with some straw and they put it down for bedding. That straw never looked so good.

Jim served as a Buck Sargent during the Korean War, both at Masaan and then at Inchon where he was sent down the Han River on patrols. Jim’s unit was also assigned to an Army artillery unit that was located northwest of Seoul, on the Imjin River near Kaesong. He wrote about being assigned to go back to Seoul and his unit needed to ride on a flatbed rail car that was hauling military equipment. He said they were ordered to sit amongst the equipment and when they went through a tunnel, the smoke from the train’s steam engine was so thick that they thought they would all choke to death.

For his service, Jim received numerous medals, ribbons, and accommodations, which included: the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Marine Security Guard Ribbon, the United Nations Service Medal, the Presidential ribbon from Korea, the Expert Rifleman Badge, and the Sharpshooter Pistol Badge.

Before Jim went to Korea, he claimed a promise from God’s word, “A thousand shall fall at the right hand and 10,000 at thy left, but it shall not come nigh thee”. He said, what grand feelings to know that God can sustain us in all situations. Jim was proud to have served his country and proud to be a Marine.

When Jim returned from Korea, he married his sweetheart Opal, whom he called his “Gem”. They were married over 55 years and raised four children. He loved his family and they did make many good memories together.

Jim apprenticed and worked as a Carpenter for many years. He was fortunate to work on many large projects during his career, including the Monorail construction at Disneyland as well as large projects at Knotts Berry Farm. He stated that most of the jobs he worked on were followed and planned using blueprints.

Jim believed that the best blueprint for this life was God’s Word.

In 2004, Jim moved back to Ellensburg. Over the years since then, Jim has enjoyed and become embedded with being a part of his Ellensburg family; brother Keith Cummings, niece Peggy (Bob) and Derek & Bethany Eaton, niece Gayle Thomas, and nephews Randy, Jerry, and Ted Cummings. He enjoyed holidays, birthdays, sporting events, concerts, and veterans’ day events, including both parades and school assemblies, where he loved to call out his great niece and nephew and announce how proud he was of them. He enjoyed many a Sunday dinner and spent many an afternoon with his brother, Keith watching old westerns. Family was so important to Jim as he missed his own family in California.

Jim was known around Ellensburg for his harmonica playing and his friendly smile. He loved to tell a little joke and would do so with a twinkle in his eye. He was very proud of his service in the military and would share pictures of his memories with anyone who would listen. He loved to participate in the Veterans Day Parades each year and many local folks always watched for him in the parade.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Opal, daughter Janet Hood, and son Lyle Cummings; parents, Roy and Gladys; siblings, Wayne (Mary) Cummings, Ethel (Don) Batcheldor, Wanda (Ancel) Bachelor, Freida (Harold) Lincoln, and sister-in-law Evelyn Cummings.

Jim is survived by his son Tim (Colleen) Cummings; daughter Judy (Jerry) Ernst; brother Keith Cummings; five grandchildren, James (Chauncey) Hood, Becki (Brenton) McAdow, Aaron Ernst, Matt (Jessica) Ernst, Joshua Cummings; and nine great-grandchildren, Savannah, Adaline, Miller, Renee, Allie, Kevin, Noah Alex and Ryan; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Ellensburg, WA. To share a memory of Jim, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Prestige Acute Care & Rehab Center in Ellensburg, for their loving care for Jim. We appreciate you all!

Jim wrote, “I just pray that my family come to realize that I still miss and love them, but It looks like I may not see my kids, grandkids, or great grandkids again this side of heaven”. He added, “You know, when I think of what all God’s grace has brought me through in this life, I truly must sing that old song, ‘Count Your Many Blessings’”. He wrote, “Look for me at the feet of Jesus. Heaven will be worth it all. I’m not perfect, just forgiven.” Semper Fi, Jim!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Cummings family.