James Frederick Bisset
James Frederick Bisset, life-long resident of Wasco County, passed away at age 85 on October 21, 2023, in The Dalles. Born May 14, 1938, Jim was the oldest of seven children, to Alexis and Marian (Vanderpool) Bisset. He was raised west of Dufur, at Wolf Run. He attended one room Wolf Run School, graduated from Dufur High School, then earned post high school certifications in Auto Mechanics and Diesel. Except for a few years in Eugene, he lived in The Dalles for the remainder of his life.
He and wife, Sandra (Lofvendahl) Bisset, were married 52 years and raised three children - Michael who is married to Cathy McCarthy and lives in Yamhill: Patrick, who is married to Jeanie Ladd and lives in Bend; and Jeffrey who is married to Sheri Johnson and lives in Bellevue, Washington. He also left five grandchildren: Bailey Bisset (Dan Bement), Allie Bisset (Andrew Jensen), James Bisset, Alexis Bisset, and James Patrick “Hank” Bisset and three great grandchildren: Lillian, Jackson, and Wesley Bement.
He is also survived by all six siblings: Tom Bisset, Mary (Bisset) Thompson-Taylor, Peggy (Bisset) Novak, John Bisset, Barbara Bisset, and Steve Bisset, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is survived by good friend, Ray Chrisman, and pre-deceased by good friends Tony Batty, Doug Garner and Fred Patton. He also cherished his relationship with Christy (Patton) Harrah, husband Jason, and children Alex, Griffin, and Vivian.
Jim had a varied work history starting in high school when he was a ranch hand to Wayne Sigman and Bill Hulse, then ran the projector at the Dufur movie theater. He moved on to driving the school bus for Dufur School District, also working at Ronnie Thompson’s machine shop and Depriest Farm Equipment in Dufur. He moved to Eugene and worked four years at McKays Markets, and as a choker setter for Barker Timber Company in the coast range. When he returned to The Dalles he then went back to retail, working for Brady’s and Sawyer’s Markets in The Dalles.
Life changed in 1967 when he was hired by Harvey Aluminum. He spent the rest of his working career working for Harvey, then Martin Marietta, and finally for Northwest Aluminum – all at the same location. Most of those 37 years he was a Hot Metal scaleman in the Cast House. As he got older, he gave up shift work and moved to the warehouse where he retired in 2005.
Jim could do anything he set his mind to, was an excellent auto mechanic, turned cutting and stacking firewood into an art, was a gold prospector for many years in the Blue Mountains, and was an avid hunter and fisherman his entire life. Jim was an active member of The Dalles Rifle and Pistol Club, Oregon Hunters Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and volunteered for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s young hunter and tree planting programs.
Jim served in the Oregon National Guard for eight years, first in The Dalles, then in Eugene.
Private interment will be held at St. Peters Catholic Cemetery, The Dalles, Oregon. A celebration of life will be held later. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Humane Society or the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.