James Earl Tolman Jr. - Oct. 2, 1949 - August 16, 1994

James Earl Tolman Jr., 44, of Vale, Oregon died Tuesday Aug 16, 1994 at his home following an extended illness. 
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Vale Second Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Glenn Shelton, conducting. Burial will follow in Valley View Cemetery at Vale. Services are under the direction of Vale's Lienkaemper Chapel.
Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday in the Relief Society room at the church.
Mr. Tolman was born Oct. 2, 1949, at Fort Lewis, Wash., the son of James Earl and Charline Lue (Martin) Tolman. While Mr. Tolman was growing up he lived Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. However most of his childhood was spent in the Monterey, Calif., area. After his father retired from the military service, the family moved to Vale where Mr. Tolman finished high school in 1967.
Mr. Tolman joined the Army where he served for two and half years, spending 19 months in Vietnam. He received two bronze stars and three commendation medals.
While on leave from the services, Mr. Tolman met Shari Sue Miller. After a long courtship they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Following their marriage, they resided in La Grande where Mr. Tolman worked for Boise Cascade and attended Eastern Oregon State College.
They moved to Vale in 1980 where Mr. Tolman worked for Malheur County as the Bully Creek Park Caretaker.
Mr. Tolman was acive in the Mormon Church and held many positions including executive secretary to Bishop Glenn Shelton, a position he held until his death.
Mr. Tolman often dressed up in the famous red suit during the Christmas season. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing and family camping trips. He also enjoyed photographing wildlife and the outdoors.
He is survived by his wife, Shari of Vale; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jason Earl Tolman and Jared Alan and Lisa Ann Tolman; two daughters, Sharma Sue and Shanna Marie, both of Vale; one grandson, Joshua Alan: one brother, Dennis Dee Tolman; one sister Margaret Ann Brown both of Ontario: three half-brothers, George Earl Tolman of Washington, Joshua Alvin (Jay) Jaus of Minnesota and Wes Lee Tolman of North Carolina; five half- sisters, Linda Kirvin of Minnesota, Becky Savage of Ohio, Beverly Sauls and Tina Blakely of North Carolina, and Lucy Koda of Ontario. Mr. Tolman is also survived by one stepsister, Nancy Montes of Georgia; his step-mother, Janie Gunther of Sanford, N. C. and numerous nieces and nephews and aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mr. Tolman was preceded in death by his parents.