James (Jim) David Curelas was born on April 4, 1949, and passed away on March 22, 2024, at Centralia Providence Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. Jim was born and raised in Napavine, Washington, by his mother, Margaret Grace Valeos Curelas, having lost his father, Gust Curelas, at a young age. Jim was very proud of his Greek heritage, attending local Greek festivals and traveling to Greece to visit his Greek cousins. He especially enjoyed seeing the village where his father spent his childhood.At age 15, Jim discovered his love of gardening when he started working for Moore's Nursery. His gardens and orchards were his passion, and their beauty is a living tribute to him. In addition to gardening, Jim loved to travel visiting national parks, national monuments and revolutionary and Civil War battlefields, and he was an avid collector of Marx Toys playsets. Jim was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Freda; his children, Gust Curelas, Harvey and Jaime (Curelas) Butterfield, and Lucas Curelas; his grandchildren, Grace and Sophia Butterfield, and Amelia, Evelynn (Evie) and James Curelas; his sister Helen Valeos Janisch (Gary); his brother, Dick Valeos (Shirley); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gust and Margaret Grace Valeos Curelas, and his sister Anna Valeos.There will be no services. In lieu of flowers and as a tribute to Jim, please consider donating to the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1502, Tacoma WA 98401-1502.
