James Thomas Clarkson

Born February 9, 1927 in East Rutherford, New Jersey to James and Maybelle Clarkson, he joins his wife Bonnie Lou, who passed away in 2015. Mentored by his high school math teacher and football coach, he was recruited by the University of Nevada, along with some of his lifelong sandlot football buddies – a move that changed his life. He received a scholarship to play football and basketball, graduated with a degree in civil engineering and met his wife of 67 years, Bonnie Lou Taylor.

Drafted into the Korean War, he was stationed in Hawaii, a place they both loved and visited often. They started their family on the East Coast with the births of their two children, Dan and Bruce. He coached youth sports, earned a Masters in Engineering, joined Shell Oil for the next 32 years and spent good times and holidays with the families of his childhood friends and relatives. These included the clans of Ken Sinofsky, his cousin Jack Clarkson and the Falicon/Elliots. Cape Cod, the Jersey Shore, Hawaii and visits to Bonnie’s family in Texas and California were cherished memories for the Clarksons.

Thanks to a Shell Oil transfer, Jim saw the light and moved back out West – first to the SF Bay area in the late 60s and finally to Mercer Island in 1972. He and Bonnie had an elegant home alongside the MI Beach Club, where he found other outlets for his athleticism, playing tennis and swimming in the Lake. Jim cultivated many groups of friends, including his tennis, bridge and ethnic out-to- dinner groups, along with lifelong friends from the Island.

JT’s smile and humor will be missed, and he leaves an inconsolable hole in the hearts of his two boys, Dan and Bruce, their wives Andrea and Julie, his four granddaughters, Margaret Aurora, Carris, AnaLucia, Ariana and his favorite grandson Taylor. In lieu of flowers, please send chocolates. Please share your memories of Jim at www. Legacy.com and join us for a celebration of his life on Friday, March 15 at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island at 12:00, with reception to follow at the Church.