Longtime Chronicle Columnist Jim Shouse Passes

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Jim Shouse and his wife, Naomi, at their elegant Chehalis home. The idea was that I would put together a story about how Jim was facing his final days, after learning that he had an incurable combination of lung and heart problems.

Unfortunately, daily duties as editor intervened and I wasn't able to finish my reporting and write the story. I learned a few hours ago that Jim's condition had rapidly worsened over the weekend. He died Monday morning.

Jim, who started at The Chronicle two years after I was born, left his mark on the newspaper and the community. He was known as a cordial southern gentleman, and even when I tangled with him as his editor over the past nine months, he was unfailingly friendly the next time I called him. 

Shouse was perhaps best known in the community for his weekly column, Sidebars, which was known for its conversational style. He enjoyed mentioning by name the people he met during the week, and he liked to end with a joke he called his "column closer."

With that in mind, I can't forget the last thing he said to me after he walked me to the door following my interview with him. He had asked if anyone had missed his column since his illness forced him to stop writing a few months ago. I told him I had gotten a few calls. 

This longtime newsman, who was facing a certain death sentence, flashed me a big smile and said in his gentle southern drawl, "They'll have to continue missing it."