James Erickson

Date of birth  - February 27, 1968

Date of death  - January 31, 2026

James was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire February 27, 1968. He arrived alert and ready to a brother (Donnie Morrie) and a sister (Robin Morrow) who lived at the time in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He was raised by his mother, Anita, and stepfather, Jim Erickson (MUHS'59) when the family moved to the west coast (Molalla, Oregon). This was a small town in the Willamette Valley where the Erickson family of four generations had settled as early pioneers.

They lived in and around Molalla where James attended both Molalla Elementary School and graduated from High School (MHS '86).

James had a variety of jobs around Molalla, after graduating, e.g. grocery store clerk, animal caretaker, and tow truck driver before he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corp.

He never married. Some of the attributes his friends and family remember of him as distinctive were his natural artistic abilities and his affinity for animals (particularly cats). Some considered him an "animal whisperer" because he was so attuned to understanding and communicating with cats and dogs.

With a big heart and depth of compassion, James listened well to those who came to confide in him. He was naturally sensitive and always alert to how he might be of help to others . He was unusually generous even to the extent of giving things away was at his own expense.

He said he was happiest and felt better when he volunteering at the local food bank and used clothing center. He tried as best he could throughout his life having few material resources. Most remarkable about James was his unwavering loyalty to his feral wild cat, GK (Green Eyed Kitty) that he met in the woods above Molalla.

In 2025 James left Molalla (along his companion cat, GK). Their destination was to live with his brother Donnie and his wife Patty Morrow. He enjoyed both Thanksgiving and Christmas as a family in Burlington, Michigan, that was to be his new next home.

On January 31, 2026 James died of a cardiac arrest, a heart attack, when the Morrows were away from their home and he was there alone. James left behind his step-siblings, Terry Erickson (Salem)and Michelle Erickson (Meridian, Idaho). In addition he left two nieces, Tori Keith (Molalla), Tierra Erickson (Oregon City), and his aunt, Sheryl Erickson (Burlington, Vermont).

A memorial service and Celebration of Life ceremony were held in his honor June 10, 2026 at the cemetery where his ashes were buried at Zion Memorial Park in Canby in the same grave site with Jim Erickson.

After the ceremony at Zion , a Celebration of Life sharing took place during a luncheon at the Molalla Area Historical Society (Molalla). Gary and Bev Bush prepared and served the food.