In Memory of James Russell Howland Abbott (Jim)

James Russell Howland Abbott (Jim), 87, passed away surrounded by his loving family on July 14, 2024 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was born on January 7, 1937 in Spokane, Washington to Charles and Grace (Arneson) Abbott. He spent his childhood in Coeur d Alene and Sandpoint, Idaho graduating from high school in Coulee Dam, Wash. In 1955. He graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Forestry. During the summers he served on U.S. Forest Service Blister Rust crews and fought many forest fires.

In 1959 he married Janice McKail. They met in their freshman year of college. During his career he served on the Kaniksu National Forest in northern Idaho, the Custer National Forest in South Dakota, the St. Joe National Forest and the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho. In 1972 the family moved to Washington DC where Jim worked in the Chief’s office in fire management. Fire safety and training was his assigned area. After spending four years in the Washington office the family moved to Alamogordo, NM where Jim served as Lincoln National Forest Service Supervisor for 12 years. In 1989 he was transferred to the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, AZ as Supervisor. He retired in 1994 after 38 years of service. We moved back to Alamogordo.

Jim was always involved in every community he lived. In Alamogordo he was a member of Grace United Methodist Church serving as a chair of many committees, worked on UMCOR Mission teams, taught Sunday School and cooked for many years at Grace’s Shared Table. He served on the hospital Board of Directors, was instrumental in forming the Otero County Youth Soccer program, coached and was a referee. He was a member of the Alamogordo Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Otero County Association for Retarded Citizens Board, and was president of United Way in 1987. He and Jan were Regional Co-ordinators for the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS).

Jim’s favorite place to be was at our little cabin on Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho. He was blessed with 22 summers fishing, hiking, and picking huckleberries. This he shared with his family and friends, many who visited us from Alamogordo.

In memory of Jim, should friends desire, donations may be sent to Grace Methodist Shared Table, The Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation (CdLS), or Alamogordo Rotary Foundation. His Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Methodist Church on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 2:00 PM. The family will be presenting the service. They have entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home. The family wishes to send a special thank you to the Alamogordo Home Health Care and Hospice for their care and compassion.

To sign the online register book, please visit www.alamogordofuneralhome.org