James “Jim” Peter Crain passed away at home surrounded by family and dear friends on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, after a sudden and brief battle with cancer.

Born on Nov. 24, 1942 in Portland, Maine, Jim lived and grew up in Rochester, N.H. where he graduated from Spaulding High School. Moving west, he received degrees in geophysics/glaciology and pure math from the University of Washington. His graduate studies were done on the Blue Ice Glacier in the Olympic Mountain Range.

Jim was stationed in Berchtesgaden in the German Bavarian Alps where he skied for the U.S. Army European Di vision of the National Ski Patrol (AFRC). Jim also lived in Colorado where he was a professional ski patrolman at Loveland Basin.

In New Hampshire, he started Maple Hill Construction, and later moved to Port Townsend, Wash., to become a shipwright who built Cape George Cutters. Jim established Crain Construction and moved onto San Juan Island over 20 years ago to continue his passion for creating custom homes. Clients from San Juan Island, Pearl Island, and Hawaii soon became personal friends.

Jim is survived by his wife and best friend, Kathy, and his mother, Ruth Butler Veno, of Rochester, N.H; his aunt, Corinne (Robert) Brinson, of Jacksonville, Fla.; cousins, Bonnie (Tommy) Brinson McMillan, of Thomasville, Ga., Dr. Randy (Pam) Brinson of Montgomery, Ala., Jonathon (Jackie) Brinson of Jacksonville, Fla., Betty-Ann Brinson (Charles) Suggs of Jacksonville, Fla.; eight second cousins and two third cousins.

He is also survived by his mother-in-law MaryEllen Melton, brother-in-law Fred (Marla) Melton, nephews Scott and Jeff Melton, all of Bend, Ore.; previous wife, Ann (Mike) Rau of Eugene, Ore.; brother, Gary (Dianne) McClelland of Hoodsport, Wash.; niece, Gretchen McClelland of Bellevue, Wash.; nephew, Greg McClelland of Lombard, Ill.; along with many, many special friends.

Jim will be remembered for his passion and love for flying, skiing and sailing. He has left his signature with his construction of beautiful homes where he gathered many lifelong friends along the way.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Roche Harbor Pavilion, San Juan Island, Wash., on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. with a potluck lunch. For more information, please contact Marie, (360) 378-7595; or Diana, (360) 378-5039.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Crain Memorial Fund at Islanders Bank, P.O. Box 909, Friday Harbor, WA. 98250.

— Friends and family of James “Jim” Peter Crain