James "Jim" Lissman

James (Jim) Dayton Lissman was born in Torrington, Wyoming, on October 6, 1933. He died in Baker City,Oregon surrounded by his loving family on September 12, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Della Webb and Henry Lissman; his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Louise Smith; his sisters Evelyn Lovell and Kathleen (Babe)
Dennis, by his brothers Junior Wayne Lissman and Raymond Lissman and by his daughter Cheri Jimmy and great-grandson Cole Satterlee. Jim is survived by his daughters Barb (Dennis) Baller of Carlton, Sam (Mike) Sullivan of Baker City, His sons Charles Lissman of Baker City, Lorrin (Sue) Lissman of Goldendale, WA, son-in-law Billy Jimmy of La Grande as well as fifteen grandchildren; twenty-five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Jim married the love of his life Elizabeth (Betty) Lou Smith on January 15, 1954, in Nyssa, Oregon where they both graduated from high school. Jim studied Agricultural Science at the College of Idaho. Then the couple moved to Baker City in 1961 and raised their five children here. After their youngest child (Sam) graduated from Baker high school they moved to McMinnville, Oregon.
Jim worked as a carpenter, a farmer, a business owner and an agricultural lending officer. He retired in 1996 as vice president of Valley Community Bank in McMinnville, Oregon. The Lissmans moved back to Baker City in 2003.

Throughout Jim’s life he supported his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in athletics, Little League, 4-H, FFA and music programs. Jim and Betty were team grandparents at many sporting events around Oregon. Jim built family homes in Nyssa, Baker City and their dream home in McMinnville, Oregon. Jim built a beautiful log lodge in Kenzu, Oregon and restored the historic Ison House in Baker at the corner of Washington & Resort Streets in 1979. Jim contributed 1,000 hours to the OSU Master Gardener Program in McMinnville. Jim, the youngest of five, surrounded himself with not only his five children but numerous others that he mentored, helped, fixed things for, built things for, including neighbors, family and friends. Jim was famous for fixing things, all kinds of things. In fact, he fixed everything! Jim was gifted in his wood shop and made furniture and calendar holders, Adirondack chairs, detailed walnut desks, cabinets, bookshelves and framed pictures for family and friends all around the state. Jim was known for his incredible work ethic and left a legacy of service wherever he went. He was very friendly, and his kids teased him about how it would take hours to get out of the grocery store because he stopped and visited with so many people. Jim loved to travel around the United States and always met interesting people along the way who often became lifelong friends. Jim was a Christian and believed that he would one day join the Lord and his loved ones in heaven. Jim was an inspiration and friend to many and he will be missed.

Jim would have been 90 soon so we plan to celebrate his life and his upcoming heavenly birthday on September 30th at 1:00 pm at the Presbyterian Church in Baker City. We will serve German chocolate cake, his favorite, at his request just days before he passed.

A special thank you to the staff at Billy Bootsma Cancer Treatment Center, Meadowbrook Assisted Living and hospice Heart & Home of Baker for all of their wonderful care.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Jim, the family suggests Best friends of Baker City where Jim and Betty got their beloved Tinker Bell through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com