James Richard 'Jim" Chalmers, 72, passed away peacefully at his Albion home on February 27, 2019.  He was born in Billings, Montana March 17, 1946 to Douglas and Catherine Chalmers.  He joined an older brother, Robert.  Another brother, Kenneth, followed in 1951 to complete the family.  Doug and Catherine raised their boys in Shawmut, Montana.

With his father's permission, Jim joined the US Navy in 1963 at 17.  He served until his Honorable Discharge in 1969.  He moved to Moscow, Idaho where his brother Bob lived with his wife, Carol Cain Chalmers and their family.  He worked in construction as both an equipment operator and mechanic.

In 1969 he married Vickie Cain (Carol's sister) in Pullman, Washington, working for Hinderer Brothers Farms and Harold Boyd Farms, operating farm equipment and serving as mechanic.

Jim and Vickie raised three children, Christopher (1971), Cara Jo (1973) and Jillian (1979) in the Pullman - Albion area, moving to Missoula, Montana in 1976 where Jim continued his heavy equipment mechanic career.  In 1979 he began working in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, servicing oil field equipment.

In 1983 the family returned to Washington and settled in Albion.  Jim worked for Whitman County, first at the Landfill, then the County shop in Colfax.  In 1995 he returned to work in Alaska for Peak Oil Field Services until his retirement.

Jim was an active member of the Albion Community Church, serving as a board member for many years until failing health kept him from attending.  Jim enjoyed camping, cutting firewood, and traveling.  He was an avid RC Modeler and built model boats and airplanes.  He built a G-scale railroad in his back yard and maintained it for many years until his declining health.  It wasn't unusual for neighbors to hear the train whistle in the evenings as he sat on his deck with the controller for his steam engine.  Although he had many hobbies, Jim's was happiest when spending time with his family – especially his 10 Grandchildren.

Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years at the family home in Albion, their three children, Chris (Kelly Smith) of Pullman, Cara Jo Maddy, Silverdale, WA, and Jillian (Andy) Cochrane of Princeton, Idaho.  He is loved by 4 grandsons, 6 granddaughters, 3 great-granddaughters, many nieces and nephews, his Church family in Albion, and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, both brothers, his sister-in-law, and an infant grandson, Jesse Chalmers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Albion Community Church, with burial following at the Albion Cemetery.  Memorials may be sent to the Albion Community Church @ PO Box 114, Albion, WA, 99102.  Kimball Funeral Home is caring for the family and in charge of services.