Fresh out of high school I moved to Seattle and became roommates with a crazy musician named James.  Your music riding along in your beatup Jeep Cherokee became a landmark point in my life and development.

You were a bigger part of other peoples lives than you knew my friend.

So many songs are tied to memories of James, I’m realizing.. the first line of The Outfield’s “Your Love”, any Joe Jackson or Neil Young, Radiohead’s acoustic version of “Fake Plastic Trees”.. You are loved, James. Always.

I met James through my partner Julie. I remember making an unplanned trip to Cannon Beach to see sea stars that were exposed at low tide around ‪Haystack Rock‬. I had not known him for long at the time, but he welcomed me and treated me as if I was already part of their friendship. On the drive back, I remember James spotted a dear running along side the car. He slowed down so that Julie and I wouldn’t miss it. Later, Julie filtered through the photos she took, settling on one with three sea stars hovered together. Each an amazing different warm color, glossy and thick against the green anemone and texture of the rocks. We all claimed to be one of the three. 

Since then there are countless other moments I remember fondly. Walking along the river at Sellwood Park. We built a fire from scratch and just talked into the night. James was so easy and calming to be around. He played the piano for us and some worn boxes in his storage unit one day. I sat on the bench next to him transfixed by how naturally his hands moved over the keys. 

My deepest condolences to anyone that was lucky enough to share moments with him. I will miss him.

James always believed in me.  He brought out the best in people, and brought us together.  
I would like to thank his family members for their part in shaping him into the wonderful person he was.  I will miss my friend.  

James was an amazing human. He was the best I could have asked for at being a cousin, at being a friend. 

He was always there for me, and didn’t let anything I was going through cloud his opinion. He and I had many real, in depth conversations. When a lot of my family shut me out, he let me in. He saw me. 

James and I would talk music for hours. I could be real about what I really thought. When his dad passed, I remember James holding me while we both cried into each other’s arms. 

It is unimaginable still that he is gone. He wanted so much for me, and I know he’s proud, even after passing away from this life. 

James will always be apart of my life. I will always remember him—for his kindness, wit, musical talent, realness, humanity, and snark. 

Love you James. Say hey to my grandpa for me. 

James’ most recent band was Audits, with my husband Tim, and Miles and Adam. They practiced in our basement just about every week. I loved the music they wrote together. Some of the guitar harmonies sounded like a throwback to Thin Lizzy in the best possible way. The nights where they were running through their written songs felt like putting on a favorite record. 

He came over while we were decorating our Christmas tree to grab some something from the band room and hung out listening to the holiday music we were playing while decorating. We ended up singing along together and he was hitting all the harmonies in that Paul McCartney song, “Simply having a wonderful Christmas time”. He had an amazing voice and often randomly broke out singing whatever song was on his mind. 

Another night we were out with some friends at a bar. He knew I just had a rough week and gave me one side of his headphones. The two of us were in our own world - each of us had a side of his earbuds on - and geeking out sharing some of our favorite songs with each other on his phone and singing along to them in the middle of a crowded bar. We probably looked ridiculous but we were having too much fun to care. That’s a small part of what it was like to be friends with James. 

Bands are kind of like small families between the members and their significant others. We lost a dear friend and he will be greatly missed. 

Much love,
Mandy

My most sincere condolinces and greatest sympathy to you and your family with the loss of James. I want you to know that James was appreciated in his life for being him and all that it meant. He will be missed. He had a profound impact on my life. And while at times we had our differences and lost touch, he was always with me in my memories of the crazy and close times we had. I feel so fortunate to have spent the day with him last March; of course not knowing I would never see him again...

Sincerely,

Matt Boss. 
(Former schoolmate,  roomate and bandmate in Sansei.)

OBITUARY

James Brian Mendenhall

February 7, 1977 – January 1, 2019

Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary & Sunset Hills Memorial Park

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