James Ace Barnhart

Jim was born July 3, 1936, in Oso, Washington and passed away August 8, 2017, in Puyallup. Jim was the oldest of three children. The family moved around, as his father sought work, and though times were tough, Jim had many fond memories of his years in Lake Wenatchee. Eventually the family settled in Auburn, where Jim graduated high school in 1954. Following graduation, Jim quit his job on a dairy farm, and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a radio man (Morse coder). Following his completion of duty, and honorable discharge, Jim joined the Puyallup Fire Department. He served his community for 21 years as a firefighter there, the last five years as the chief. Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed the outdoors, and was an avid animal lover (with a special fondness for puppies and ducks!). He enjoyed camping, hunting, and most especially, steelhead fishing! He was a heckuva whistler, and a talented and creative artist, woodworker and taxidermist. Jim loved country music and old western movies. He LOVED his family, and making them laugh, with witty banter and silly contrived song lyrics, utilizing his nearly limitless vocabulary. He will be sorely missed by his entire family and large circle of friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; James W. and June, and his sister Nancy and brother Dennis. Jim is survived by his wife, Sandra Witsoe Barnhart; children Kara, Pam, Jim, Nanci and Brent ; his grandchildren Nicole, Kit, Koree, Keane, Caela, Katie, A J, and Jessica, and great grandchildren, Kylee, Alexis, Jackson and McCoy along with his extended Witsoe family. A celebration of life will be held in his honor on Friday, August 25th, 2017, at Station House 726 in Puyallup, at 3 pm, following a military ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA at 12:30pm. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Diabetes Association, in honor of James Ace Barnhart.