James Eugene Pettett, 71, died March 28, 2012, the result of a Feb. 23, 2012, automobile accident.

He was born Feb. 24, 1941, to Eugene and Dorothy (Basteyns) Pettett. He graduated with honors from high school in 1959 in Port Angeles, Wash., then attended the University of Washington for three years before joining the U.S. Air Force. He married Linda Brodhun in 1962 and in 1976 married Elizabeth “Li” Will. He retired from the Air Force after 20 years, then spent 20 years with the Department of Defense. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church and a member of Rotary and Promise Keepers.

He is survived by mother Dorothy Knutson of Newport, Ore.; wife Li Will Pettett; sister Nancy Pettett Carter of Magnolia, Ark.; stepchildren Angela Shepherd of Denver, Yvonne Dimora of Palm Springs, Calif., and Mark Shankle of San Antonio; and numerous grandchildren.