|
 James M. “Jim” McNevin Sr., 94, of White Bird, died Saturday, April 11, 2009. He was born Jan. 10, 1915, in Stockton, California, but moved to Gray Lakes, Idaho by the time he was 12 in 1927.
When he was 18, he joined the CCC’s, eventually ending up at Camp 106, which became the old Riggins mill site. The Salmon River got into his blood and he never moved far from it for very long for the rest of his life.
He was known as “Hardrock” on the C.B. because he loved to rock hound and dig around in the creeks for gold. There aren’t many hills between Riggins and Elk City that don’t know his footsteps.
In 1970 he married Vicki Ann Maynard, the love of his life. They lived in Tacoma, Washington for about six months before settling in Elk city for the next 10 years.
After retiring as a fireman for the sawmill in Elk City, they took over the care of the campgrounds along the Salmon River from Hammer Creek to Short’s Bar. They lived on Slate Creek for the past 25 years entertaining a menagerie of cats, dogs, birds, chickens, ducks, and the occasional coyote, raccoon and cougar.
He was the proud father of one son, Jimmy, who he raised mostly by himself. James M. McNevin, Jr., was the light of his dad’s life and was always there for him. He and his wife, Lynda, provided him with a grandson, Scott McNevin, who gave him four great-grandchildren; and a granddaughter, Brenda McNevin Morrow and husband, Rich, gave him three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Wanda Edwards of Nampa; one niece, one nephew, and two great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother and two sisters.
He requested that no services be held on his behalf because as he said, “I ain’t gonna be there anyway.” The family is planning a celebration of his life sometime during the summer of 2009. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.
|
