Obituary for James "Jim" Duffus
James Neithercut Duffus (92) passed away peacefully on July 23, 2020 in Stevenson, Washington. He was the son of William A. and Jean N. Duffus, born March 12, 1928, in Saco, Maine. He attended Thornton Academy before obtaining his first job with The Cascades Restaurant, where he met his future wife Louisa Mae Bacon. The couple married in 1947.
Jim became a meter reader and later a first class lineman for Central Maine Power Company. In 1957 the family relocated to the Panama Canal Zone in order to join Jim’s parents. There he was hired as a civilian electrician for the US Navy. In 1961 he transferred to the Panama Canal Company and oversaw the maintenance of the essential navigation lights along the canal’s banks. His career changed once more when he became the PCC Electrical Division’s supervisor for the maintenance of the center district’s high voltage transmission lines…the line that span from the isthmus adjacent to the railroad.
Upon retiring in early 1982, Jim and Louisa returned to what had been their summer home on Long Lake in Naples, ME. Jim’s retirement job was driving a Lakes Region School District bus. Since missed their immediate family, they journeyed permanently to North Bonneville, WA, in 1986, where Jim continued his bus driving career for the Stevenson-Carson School District.
An avid golfer, Jim played the links whenever he could. He also had a legendary love of cribbage, often playing before lunch was served at the Senior Center in North Bonneville. He was an active member of the North Bonneville Community Church. When they lived in the Canal Zone, he loved being in the Motor Patrol of Abou Saad Temple as a Mason and serving on the board of the Gamboa Union Church. After assembling a fiberglass kit boat from Luger Industries, he spent a lot of time fishing in the Bay of Panama and the fresh waters of Gatun Lake. The family also enjoyed water skiing, most often heading for the water right after Jim got off work!
Jim was predeceased by his sister Elizabeth; brother William A.; wife Louisa in 2001; son-in-law Michael Plucker, and his wife Sue Bowers in 2019. He is survived by his daughter Inez Plucker of Plainfield IN; sons William J. Duffus (wife Elaine) of Gray, ME and James B. Duffus (wife Clover) of North Bonneville, WA; grandchildren Nellie Arnett (husband Darrell) of Plainfield, William Plucker (wife Katie) of Eugene, OR, Emily Sayle (husband Robert) of Norcross, GA, Louise Artman (husband Christopher) of Berwick, PA, Joshua Duffus (wife Rachel) of Cook, WA, Christina Curry (husband Jason) of Spanaway, WA; and great grandchildren Jacob, Peter and Ruby Arnett, Robert I. and Elaine Anne Sayle, Isaac and Emma Artman, Miles, Jackson, William J. Duffus, and Clover and Geneva Curry.
The family earnestly would like to thank the staff of Parkhurst and Rock Cove assisted living facilities for their dedicated and loving care for Jim. Interment will be at the Ladd - Mercer cemetery in Mercer, Maine on August 8, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Bonneville Community Church (C/O Anderson’s Tribute Center 1401 Belmont Ave. Hood River, OR 97031). Memorial services in WA and ME will be held at later dates.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
Jim became a meter reader and later a first class lineman for Central Maine Power Company. In 1957 the family relocated to the Panama Canal Zone in order to join Jim’s parents. There he was hired as a civilian electrician for the US Navy. In 1961 he transferred to the Panama Canal Company and oversaw the maintenance of the essential navigation lights along the canal’s banks. His career changed once more when he became the PCC Electrical Division’s supervisor for the maintenance of the center district’s high voltage transmission lines…the line that span from the isthmus adjacent to the railroad.
Upon retiring in early 1982, Jim and Louisa returned to what had been their summer home on Long Lake in Naples, ME. Jim’s retirement job was driving a Lakes Region School District bus. Since missed their immediate family, they journeyed permanently to North Bonneville, WA, in 1986, where Jim continued his bus driving career for the Stevenson-Carson School District.
An avid golfer, Jim played the links whenever he could. He also had a legendary love of cribbage, often playing before lunch was served at the Senior Center in North Bonneville. He was an active member of the North Bonneville Community Church. When they lived in the Canal Zone, he loved being in the Motor Patrol of Abou Saad Temple as a Mason and serving on the board of the Gamboa Union Church. After assembling a fiberglass kit boat from Luger Industries, he spent a lot of time fishing in the Bay of Panama and the fresh waters of Gatun Lake. The family also enjoyed water skiing, most often heading for the water right after Jim got off work!
Jim was predeceased by his sister Elizabeth; brother William A.; wife Louisa in 2001; son-in-law Michael Plucker, and his wife Sue Bowers in 2019. He is survived by his daughter Inez Plucker of Plainfield IN; sons William J. Duffus (wife Elaine) of Gray, ME and James B. Duffus (wife Clover) of North Bonneville, WA; grandchildren Nellie Arnett (husband Darrell) of Plainfield, William Plucker (wife Katie) of Eugene, OR, Emily Sayle (husband Robert) of Norcross, GA, Louise Artman (husband Christopher) of Berwick, PA, Joshua Duffus (wife Rachel) of Cook, WA, Christina Curry (husband Jason) of Spanaway, WA; and great grandchildren Jacob, Peter and Ruby Arnett, Robert I. and Elaine Anne Sayle, Isaac and Emma Artman, Miles, Jackson, William J. Duffus, and Clover and Geneva Curry.
The family earnestly would like to thank the staff of Parkhurst and Rock Cove assisted living facilities for their dedicated and loving care for Jim. Interment will be at the Ladd - Mercer cemetery in Mercer, Maine on August 8, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Bonneville Community Church (C/O Anderson’s Tribute Center 1401 Belmont Ave. Hood River, OR 97031). Memorial services in WA and ME will be held at later dates.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.