TITLE: James T. McElhatton, age 74, passed away on May 22, 2026, in Oakland, Oregon. He was born on October 18, 1951.

OBITUARY:

Jim lived a full and hardworking life, defined by dedication to his family, his career, and the many people whose lives he touched along the way.

He began his career with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, serving his community with pride before relocating to Oregon. There, he continued his service with the Sutherlin Police Department.

After leaving law enforcement, Jim pursued his entrepreneurial spirit by purchasing an ammunition business from his friend Bill. He manufactured ammunition and traveled extensively, participating in gun shows. During those years, his daughter, Heather, often worked alongside him, helping with the ammunition business. He later opened a shop in Sutherlin known as Bullets N Bait.

Never one to stop growing, Jim made a bold career change and attended jeweler's school in Portland. Around 1998, he opened Western Oregon Jewelers in a small building on Chestnut Street. As the business flourished, it moved to a larger location in the Garden Valley Shopping Center. Jim found great joy in his work as a jeweler, taking pride in creating unique, meaningful pieces and building lasting relationships with his customers. His children, James (Jr.) and Heather, also worked alongside him in the jewelry business over the years, making it a true family endeavor.

In 2015, Jim suffered a major stroke that brought many challenges in the years that followed. Despite this, he remained deeply committed to his business and continued to be a presence there until the day he passed. While he was no longer able to perform jewelry work in his later years, he cherished spending time at the shop, connecting with staff and customers alike.

Jim enjoyed anything gun-related, had a passion for ham radios, loved talking politics, and spent time reading the Bible. Above all, he treasured time spent with his family and friends.

Jim was first married to Elizabeth A. Walsh in 1969. Together they raised two children, James (Jr.), married to Alisa, and Heather, married to Jeff Johnson. He was a proud grandfather to Cassandra (Jonah), Zachariah (Laura), Miranda (Tanner), Megan (Michael), Sarah, Andrew, and Tina, and a loving great-grandfather to Hennessey, Alira, Ronin, Dahlia, Brayden, and Daisha. He is also survived by his sister, Teri Johnson.

In 1981, Jim married Minerva, who preceded him in death. He later married Diane in 1993, and in 1999, he married Rian.

At the time of his passing, Jim was married to Renee. He also embraced her family as his own, including her children Amanda (John) and Trinity, and grandchildren Brandon, Cameron, and Jordyn.

Jim will be remembered for his resilience, his strong work ethic, and his passion for his craft. He leaves behind a lasting legacy through his family and the business he built, which will continue to serve the community he cared so deeply about.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.