James D. Love

James D. Love, 85, died of cancer at his Trail home on the Rogue River on Aug. 18, 2009 with his son, Ron, at his side.

Jim was born in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 28, 1923 to William J. (Speed) Love and Bessie B. Land. Bessie died when Jim was just five years of age and Speed remarried in 1942 to Martha (Mart) Saunders Komp.

After graduating from Taft High School on the Oregon Coast, Jim began working for the Pacific NW Bell Telephone Co. in Portland, Ore. In March of 1943, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served during WWII until May of 1946. He married Lily L. Herbranson on March 9, 1946 in Yuma, Ariz. and soon after they moved to Portland, Ore., where Jim resumed his work with "Ma Bell" and he and Lil raised their three children, John, Ron and Susie.

In 1961, the family moved to Bend, Ore., and later in 1968, to Medford, Ore. In 1975, Jim and Lil made their final move to their property in Trail on the Rogue River. Jim retired from the phone company in 1979 after 38 years of service. He and Lil then began their travels all over the west from Canada to Mexico.

Jim loved fishing the nearby lakes with his friends, hunting for deer and elk in the fall with his boys, planting his garden in the spring, going to Reno with Lil and playing Keno, and just spending time with his friends (especially (Fletch and Tom) and his sons and Don in his "Barn" at home on the river.

Jim is survived by his sons, John D. Love and wife, Sharon, of Eagle Point, Ore., Ron Love and wife, Patty, of Talent, Ore.; daughter, Susie Korth and her husband, Don, of Eagle Point, Ore.; grandchildren, Lisa Small, Cindy Hanks, John M. Love, Jaime LaRance and Bill Love; great-grandchildren, Shawn Long, Taylor Hanks, Bailey Hanks, Ricky LaRance, Riley LaRance, Benjamin Small, Peyton Small and Madison Love. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Lil; and his brothers, Bill and Bob Love. He was laid to rest next to Lil at the Eagle Point National Cemetery on August 24th with his family and friends present.

There will never be another like Jim "The Captain" Love.