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James E. Gallegos Jr., 71

James E. Gallegos Jr. passed away on Feb. 12, 2019. Jim fought lung cancer for over 3 years and was winning when he succumbed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

He was born on Dec. 26, 1947, at St. Luke Hospital in Altadena, Calif., to James E. and Shirley Jean Gallegos.

Jim grew up in California at a time when you could still run through the orchards, climb olive trees and eat peaches from the tree. Jim, along with his brothers Johnny and Gaylord, as well as their sister, Sharon, had a childhood full of fun, adventure and mischief. Jim often wondered how they survived, or how their father let them survive. They once took apart a brand new lawnmower to make a go-kart and used poor Gaylord as their test dummy. They would also sling tiles off their roof in a neighborhood turf war.

Jim went to school in California, including two years of junior college. While in high school, Jim became an avid bowler and had dreams of going professional; however, marriage and children demanded that he get a real job. He started working for Tommy Lee as a machinist. In 1965, he married Norma Jean and they started their family, welcoming Teri Lynne. Traci Jean also joined the family in 1966. Sadly, Jim and Norma lost their son, Jimmy, to crib death in 1968. It took a terrible toll on their marriage, which ended shortly after that.

Jim reunited with his high school sweetheart and first love, Dianne Faye, and her son, Michael, and they became a family. In 1973, they were blessed to have Robert join the family as well. In 1976, they relocated to Hayden, Idaho.

Jim worked as a machinist at DeArmond Mill, Allied Weldery, Northwest Machine and Sunshine Minting, and he retired from Welding Fabricators. Always up for a challenge, Jim worked on a silent prop for the Navy at Bayview. Jim took great pride in his work and was a master at the art of machining. He took the challenge from Marvin while at Sunshine Minting and was able to get them up and running in a new building, which allowed them to get a government contract to stamp silver coins. While at sunshine, he also worked for George Devore at Hayden Denture, making dentures.

After he and Dianne divorced in 1979, he met his lifelong love, Linda Panabaker, and her daughter, Jessica. For 40 years, the two of them enjoyed a life of fun, adventure and mischief. Jim enjoyed spending time with family and friends and going to their cabin on the lake. He and Linda enjoyed refinishing and repairing old furniture in their basement. You could always count on Jim for a good laugh and practical jokes. He was also an avid NASCAR fan and loved to go to races whenever he could. And if he was watching on TV, you better not talk while it was on.

Jim is survived by his wife; his children Traci Gallegos-Schuver, Robert and Michelle Gallegos, Michael and Christine Norman and Jessica and Curtis Conner; as well as grandchildren Thresha, Taylor, Trevor, Rachel, Carissa, Jordan, Abreham, Hana, Curtis, Mathew, Kali and Hailey. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Jim Reed and Ron Reed; sister-in-law, Sharon Dillon and husband, Scott; their daughter, Emee and too many friends to name.

Sadly, Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Teri Lynne; son, Jimmy; sister, Sharon; brothers John and Gaylord; and his mother and father.

There will be a celebration of life at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2019, at the home of Dejay and Jayme Naylors.

English Funeral Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements. Please sign his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.