James Bert Hutchison, 85

James Bert Hutchison passed away on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, in Coeur d'Alene. He was born to Claude and Gladys (Walcott) Hutchison on Jan. 19, 1925, in Canon City, Colo.

He was a superstar high school athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball. Jim played with the Perotti Clowns circus-style softball team in Los Alamos, N.M., and had an article and photograph published in the very first Sports Illustrated magazine dated Aug. 16, 1954.

Jim proudly served in the United States Marine Corp during World War II and the Korean War. He married Shirley Groom in 1948 and they had three daughters. Jim earned his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado University. As a civil engineer, he worked in Los Alamos, Boulder and Denver, Colo., Coeur d'Alene and Yakima, Wash. While in Yakima, Jim managed the highway project to build Interstate 82 between Yakima and Ellensburg which included the twin arch bridges over Selah Creek.

The family settled in Yakima where Jim taught civil engineering and mathematics at Yakima Valley Community College for more than 20 years. Upon retiring, Jim and Shirley traveled to several foreign countries and frequented Canon Beach, Ore. They moved to Coeur d'Alene in 2006 to be closer to family. Over the course of his life, Jim enjoyed bowling, fly fishing, bird hunting, handball, camping at Mt. Rainier, razor clam digging on the Washington coast and the annual summer vacation back to Colorado. He was a devoted husband, father, teacher, and mentor and will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Shirley of 62 years; daughters Jere Hutchison, Lori Haberman, Lisa Clark and husband Jim; grandchildren Jennifer, Breanne, Adam, Bo and Josh. He is also survived by his brother, Jerrie Hutchison and wife Joanie and stepsister Glenda Lindsay and husband Bob.

He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather Glen Boyd.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Creekside Inn, 240 E. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

Please sign Jim's guest registry and view his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.