Jim Richard Gunn

Jim Richard Gunn got his wish of “moving freely again” (as he longingly would say), on Monday, August 16th, 2021, at age 81.

He left behind his wife, Ka Ginger Hayra of King County, WA; children from 3 marriages (Debi, Dona, Terry, Jacob, Erin, and Ryan); one of his three sisters, Jackie Hubbard of Los Angeles County, CA; his beloved friend and ex-wife, Carol O’Brien of Spokane County, WA; his “brother,” Julian Adamiatis of King County, WA; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Having begun his fathering at age 18, Jim’s children range in age from 28 to 62 and there are, so far, 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

His humor, humility, and willingness supported others in feeling good about themselves and/or… “just having fun”. As one old friend put it, “Jim was a gentle, loving soul and his kindness was legendary.”

Early livelihoods included: working on one of the first computers (which occupied several large rooms), planting trees for the Forest Service, and subsisting on the land as a self-acknowledged older hippie. His longest and last career was as a driver for Metro Transit. He planted fruit trees, grapes, and gardens and had important relationships with horses, goats, a dog and in his last years, thankfully, a maine coon cat.

Jim had a passion for political justice and environmental causes and was grateful last year when Washington State made human composting legal. Because of this, loved ones have had the privilege of participating in his return to the earth ceremony, as officiated by Recompose of King County, WA. Donations to any environmental cause or to the Southern Poverty Law Center in his name would please him.

Since emergency heart surgery in 2017, Jim suffered multiple cerebral accidents and grieved loss of abilities and vitality. He has been awaiting the release from his body for years and now he has crossed the finish line.