James G. Atkins, Jr.
James G. Atkins, Jr., died on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in the comfort of his home in Loveland, Colorado, from congestive heart failure. He was 70. Jim was born on May 3, 1947, to Peggy and James G. Atkins, Sr., in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jim spent his early years moving around the country, following his father’s United States Air Force service, yet frequently returning to his grandparents’ home in Camas, which was always his true home at heart. He was very active in the Boy Scouts, attending many Boy Scout trips that left lasting memories, including the Boy Scout’s 50th Anniversary 1960 National Jamboree in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jim earned his Eagle rank in 1961. These early experiences ignited Jim’s inherent passion for outdoor adventures, which remained steadfast throughout his life.
James G. Atkins, Jr.
Jim graduated from Camas High School in 1965. After a brief, but vibrant, stint at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, Jim joined the United States Navy and served from June of 1967 through March of 1971, being honorably discharged as a yeoman petty officer second class. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Portland State University in 1973 and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) at Oregon State University in 1975. Jim’s MBA led him to earning his CPA license and multiple corporate moves, which took him back to the east coast. In the early 1980s, he and his family moved to Longwood, Florida, where he and his wife owned two successful general accounting practice businesses. Jim earned his forensic certified public accountant designation when it was first developed and was also involved with many local charities, including the local chapters of the Better Business Bureau, American Cancer Society and Angel Flight. Of his professional successes, Jim was most proud of having provided robust employment, compensation and benefits packages to his employees.
Seeking proximity to family and the western landscape, Jim and his wife, Kathleen, moved to Colorado in 2009 upon retirement. From there, Jim launched many adventures and pursued his interest in family history. His crowning genealogical achievement was organizing a family reunion of descendants of his great-great-grandfather, Samuel Atkins, in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2017.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughter, Rebecca (Kevin) Brown; six siblings; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and many cousins.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 18, at Brown’s Funeral Home. A graveside interment at Fisher Cemetery in Vancouver will immediately follow the celebration of life ceremony. A reception will be held immediately following the interment; details will be announced at a later date. Everyone is welcome at all of the events.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the House of Neighborly Service in Loveland, Colorado, or to the Camas VFW’s Voice of Democracy scholarship fund (checks may be addressed to VFW Post 4278, P.O. Box 579, Camas, WA 98607, with Voice of Democracy noted in the memo line).
Joan Gillander
Joan Gillander died on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. She was 84. Joan was born on Nov. 25, 1933, in Vancouver. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Straub’s Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas was in charge of the arrangements.
