James 'Jim' Elliston, 79

On Monday, March 4, 2024, the Lord called James (Jim) Elliston home. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends.

Jim was born Oct. 14, 1944, in Chicago, Ill., to James and Wilma Elliston. He lived a life of service to others. 

Jim left home when he was 17 to join the Marine Corps. After serving his country, he proudly became a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 

In 1965, Jim married the love of his life, Esther Sanford, and together they lovingly raised their daughters. Jim and Esther leave behind a legacy of love, laughter and strong family bonds. Their greatest joy was time spent together; working and playing together and numerous trips to Disneyland. There have been so many happy memories of times with family and friends; events at Christ the King, church softball, the annual Elliston Christmas party at the Oare House and backyard barbecues. 

In 1977, Jim was medically retired from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. He and Esther moved their family to Post Falls. Jim went back to college and eventually earned his Ph.D. in radioactive chemistry and worked at the Nuclear Reactor at Washington State University. 

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, and brother John Elliston. 

He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Arnold, Kimberly Brandt and Cherokee Gorton; his goddaughter, Jennifer Huffman; sons-in-law Tom Arnold and Paul Gorton; his beloved granddaughters, Torrie McKellar, Taylor Sexton, Kailyn Sexton, Naomi Brandt, Brynlee Gorton and Blake Gorton; great-grandchildren Jaxon and Reagan McKellar; brother Gary Elliston and wife Alyssa; brother Dennis Elliston; sister Dianna and husband Jerry Jew; sister Beccie and husband Dale Truskowski and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Memorial services will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church, date and time to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ALS Foundation (https://www.als.org/).

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Jim’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.