James Raymond Vanderdasson

Jim Vanderdasson, 81, passed away on January 31, 2022. He left this world peacefully with his loving wife of 64 years, Bobbie Jean, at his side.  He was born on April 13, 1940, in Emmett, Idaho.  He was preceded in death by his father Ralph, mother Katheryn Hochhalter, sister Carol Dean, brother Wayde, sister Marlene Lobato and grandson Travis Vanderdasson.  He is survived by wife Bobbie Jean, his sister Judy Spriggel, son Tod Vanderdasson and wife Jonee of Burns, son Ted Vanderdasson and wife Julee of The Dalles, son Jeff Vanderdasson and wife Paula of Redmond, daughter Joann and husband Craig Polnoff of Avondale, Arizona, foster daughter Patty and husband Rod McNeil, grandchildren Ashley Vanderdasson, Jamie Turner, Zachary Vanderdasson, Emily Polnoff, Gage and Kinley McNeal, great grandchildren Ryland Williams and Adalina Vanderdasson.

Jim moved with his family to Hines in 1947.  He attended kindergarten and first grade at Vanderdasson School in Emmett, Idaho. He started delivering the Oregonian newspaper with his family when he was 9 years old.  He attended Hines Grade School and graduated from Burns Union High School in 1958.

He married Bobbie Jean Gullett September 12, 1958.  He went to work at the Edward Hines lumber company in January of 1959, continuing with Snow Mountain Pine until leaving in 1986.  He worked the final 15 years of his career at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, retiring in 2002.

Jim put the lord first in his life then his family and friends. He loved to hunt and fish with his sons and daughter and also enjoyed repairing guns in his spare time.  Jim enjoyed sports of all kinds and refereed basketball games for 47 years and football games for 27 years.  He also refereed high school volleyball and little league baseball.  A favorite refereeing story involved a trip he and his partner took to Dayville in the middle of the winter.  After the game the home team realized they did not have enough cash on hand to pay them.  They asked if Jim and his partner would accept 5 hot dogs each as payment.

He will be missed dearly by his family, and all of those who loved him.  His ashes will be spread on his favorite hunting spot.  A service will not be held and contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Burns High School Athletic Department in Jim’s memory.

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