James Lee Storment

James Lee Storment passed away on November 21, 2024, at his home in Spokane. His passing was expected, but came sooner than anyone had predicted. For the past two years of his life he lived with his wife in an assisted living facility where they felt safe with his failing health and weakness.

Jim was born on August 25, 1942, in Colfax, Washington, to Dale W. and Ella Philpott Storment and grew up on the family farm near Winona and Endicott. He graduated from Endicott High School in 1960 (the first class to graduate in the “new” gym). He attended Columbia Basin Community College and in 1963 enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he was trained as a medical laboratory technician. He served in France and Libya and did a lot of traveling around Europe while serving. He was honorably discharged in 1967.

After the service Jim attended the University of Washington where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1972. The ‘60s and ‘70s were an interesting time to be at the UW and in the poli-sci department. While in Seattle he met and married the love of his life Sharon Roberts. Upon graduation the couple moved out of the big city to Ferry County where Jim worked as a technician-of-all-skills at the Ferry County Hospital. They lived north of Curlew Lake in a log house in the backwoods. Their first two children were born there. Jim later worked for a local contractor and helped build the new hospital as well as many houses and buildings. Jim served on the Curlew school board. It was an enjoyable and memorable time in their lives.

When Jim’s dad retired the couple moved to the farm. Their third child was born in Colfax. They farmed for 43 years and raised their children there. They enjoyed farm life and attending and participating in all their children’s activities. They had milk cows, horses, sheep, pigs and show steers off and on over the years and always big dogs and cats. All the kids left for college and Jim continued farming until his health began to fail. He was a member of the Wheat Growers of Endicott and served on its board of directors, the Endicott Gun Club and “the poker group.”

Jim is survived by his wife Sharon at Touchmark in Spokane, his children Zachary (Zac) J. Storment (Kristen) in Spokane, Kathleen (Katie) Storment McKinstry (Seth) in Spokane, and Gabriel L.(Gabe) Storment (Nancy) in Sammamish, and four grandchildren (Ella and Luke McKinstry and Jameson and Molly Storment). He is also survived by his brother Robert. Memorials may be sent to the St John-Endicott Scholarship Fund. A graveside service is planned for spring.