Jim McCafferty

Astoria resident James W. "Jim" McCafferty, 82, died April 24, 2008 in Long Beach, WA. The son of James F. and Marion O. (Walker) McCafferty, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 5, 1926. Jim grew up in Cleveland where he graduated from East High School. Following high school he joined the US Army, entered officer candidate school and became a 2nd lieutenant, serving in Germany at the end of the Second World War. Returning to Ohio he attended Hiram College where he graduated with a degree in English. One summer he worked on a sternwheeler on the Ohio River performing with a vaudeville show. While working at Goodyear Aircraft he met a co-worker by the name of Carel Johnson and they married October 18, 1952 in Mantua, Ohio. In 1954 Jim moved to California where he worked for Rocketdyne Corporation in the reprographics department. Writing proposals was Jim's specialty and be eventually became department manager, supervising over 200 people. With retirement in 1986, Jim and Carel literally sought greener pastures. Jim wanted to live on a river with ship traffic and Carel wanted trees. They found both in Astoria. Jim enjoyed music, from the big bands to classical and jazz. Jim was an avid reader, model railroader, armchair archeologist and loved to travel the world via trains, planes and car. Jim was also a devoted father and grandfather. Besides his wife of over 56 years, Jim is survived by son Geoffrey McCafferty of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; daughters Debra Pyle of Astoria, Sandra McCafferty of Salinas, CA and Lesli Meyers of Castaic, CA; 6 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim's memorial service was held April 28, 2008 at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria. The family requests memorials in Jim's memory be directed to that institution. Share a memory and sign the guestbook at www.penttilaschapel.com.