James Raymond Noggles
James Raymond Noggles, age 88, a longtime resident of Pacific and Grays Harbor counties, died on Feb. 5, 2023, in Tumwater, Washington. Jim was born on Aug. 25, 1934, in Spokane, Washington to Thomas E. and Stella Mae (Alford) Noggles. He graduated from Otis Orchards High School in 1952. After graduation, Jim worked as a sausage maker at a meat plant in Spokane and then in steel construction in Coulee City.
Jim joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1952 and served two years of active duty.
He attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma, now Southern Nazarene University. He graduated with an AB in religion. He spent the next 6 years as an evangelist and one year pastoring a church in Grand Coulee, Washington.
Jim had worked at numerous and various jobs throughout his life. But in 1969, he became a caseworker for the Department of Social and Health Services in Newport, Washington, and then in South Bend, Washington. He became known as the “Big Kahuna,” a name he found endearing. Jim then worked as a social worker supervisor for the Grays Harbor/Pacific Division of Aging and Adult Services and retired in 1999.
While living in Pacific County he painted homes and did home repairs (on the side) for low-income individuals. After retirement, he then joined the Volunteer Chore Service Program and spent the past 20 years doing yard work and miscellaneous repairs for low-income older adults living in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. He is best described as a “Jack of all trades, but master of none.”
Jim was a very civic oriented man. In Grays Harbor, he began the program of Bicycles From Heaven, where he would seek donations of older bikes and delivered them to Stafford Creek Corrections where they would be refurbished. He would then be sure that these bicycles were donated to children within the local area. As the scope of the project grew, he enlisted that aid of the Aberdeen Kiwanis Club of which he was a 40-year member. For the Kiwanis club, he had served as past president and a two term Lt. Governor. When the Kiwanis club disbanded in 2009, he joined the Aberdeen Lions and took the project with him. It remains active today and is supported by various Lions clubs in the area. In 2004, Jim was named Stafford Creek Corrections Center Volunteer of the Year for his efforts in Bicycles From Heaven.
Other organizations that Jim participated in were the Grays Harbor/Pacific/Thurston Senior Companion Program, the Grays Harbor/Pacific County Civic Choir, the Grays Harbor County’s Civic Concert Band, coached the Pacific County Farm Home Team and was a member of the Nazarene Church. He supported the activities of the Salvation Army and was very active in the Union Gospel Mission. He also participated in many productions with the Hannon Playhouse and the Grays Harbor Driftwood Players.
Surviving relatives include his sister and her husband Loretta and Howard Slemmer of Spokane; sister Judy Dalton of Las Vegas; sister-in-law, Glenndala Noggles; nephews and their spouses, Rick and Sue Noggles and Jim and Jody Noggles, and grand-nieces, Breana and Lindsay Noggles. He leaves his dear and close friend, Leona Benshoof and longtime friend, Karen Keogh and many special friends and co-workers. Jim was preceded by a brother Fred Noggles.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. An urn committal will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Aberdeen Lions Club for Bicycles From Heaven, P.O. Box 111, Aberdeen, WA 98520; the Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 859, Aberdeen, WA 98520; or to Christian Cable Ministries, P.O. Box 690, Aberdeen, WA 98520.
A very special thank you goes out to Trish, John, Scott and Andy Benshoof for all the ways they helped Jim. It was so appreciated. Thank you with love.
Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam.
Please take a few moments of reflection to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at: www.colemanmortuary.net.
