James Robert Spaid

James Robert Spaid, Jr., 72, died suddenly on December 9, 2016, after singing with the Olympia Choral Society for their annual Christmas Concert. The concert closed with one of his favorites, Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Jim was born August 10, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to James, Sr. and Jeanette Spaid. A 1962 graduate of Monterey Union High School, in Monterey, California, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Jim married Janet Ratliff on July 1, 1967 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Monterey. Their honeymoon was a road trip to Seattle, Washington, where Jim would begin working for Boeing, as part of a design group for the first 747. He enjoyed his time there. The Spaids settled in Lacey, Washington in 1970, where Jim worked with the Washington State Highway Department. In 1977, he began work with JRS Construction, a new company responsible for the development of South Park and Evergreen Estates, among others. In 1982, he went back to work for Washington State Department of Transportation, where over the years he worked in the Bridge Department, Maintenance and Construction, retiring in 2011 as State Roadway Construction Engineer. Jim is remembered by co-workers as always upbeat, patient, someone you looked forward to working with — and always complimentary of his family. Jim and Jan have three children, Jay, 47, currently working in Shanghai, China; Lucas, 44, a propane bobtail driver in Olympia; and Jennifer, 40, a proud mother of four, in Chehalis, Washington. In his free time, Jim enjoyed singing, reading, helping people and making his famous caramel brownies. Jim was an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, where he held multiple offices and served in many capacities over the years, currently as bookkeeper. He sang in the St. Mark choir for the past 47 years and played in the PraisRing Bell Choir since its inception. He enjoyed his weekly breakfast with the St. Mark Old Guys, and regularly attended concerts and sporting events showcasing the youth of the church. Jim loved being a part of Lacey Rotary, where he had participated in the Youth Exchange Program, Duck Dash, rose sales and many other fund-raisers and community service projects over the years. In 2015, he received the Service Above Self award from Lacey Rotary. Jim was a long-standing member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Olympian Choral Society. Preceding Jim in death are his parents, Bob and Jeanette Spaid; and his younger brother, John Spaid. Jim is survived by Janet, his wife of 49 years; his sister, Nancy Kilgore, of Olympia; his son, Jay; son, Lucas (Camy); daughter Jenny (Christopher); his grandchildren, Anthony, Ethan (Melinda), Nicolas, and Zoe; one great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was a generous supporter of the following organizations. If you would like to make donations in his name, please consider: St. Mark Lutheran Church, 2109 College St. SE, Lacey, WA 98503 – www.stmarklacey.org Olympia Union Gospel Mission, P.O.Box 7668, Olympia, WA 98507 – http://www.ougm.org Thurston County Food Bank, 220 Thurston Ave. NE, Olympia, WA 98501 – http://www.thurstoncountyfoodbank.org Please leave memories of Jim or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.