James "Jim" Albert Rhone

James “Jim” Albert Rhone passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Bellingham at the age of 73.    

Jim grew up in the Mount Vernon area.  He graduated from Mount Vernon High School and attended Western Washington University.  He enjoyed sports, gardening and coffee.  His daughters remember the amazing garden he tended during their childhood where they could eat blueberries and raspberries during the summer and apples in the fall.  Later he turned the vegetable patch into a huge display of dahlias which hosted a rainbow of colors during the summer and into the early fall.  Jim played sports including a short stint on a semi-professional football team, he attended all the soccer, softball and volleyball games played by his daughters and always had the television tuned to a game.  The coffee pot was always on at Jim’s house and he enjoyed having visitors, especially those who brought treats. 

Early in his life, Jim worked and operated service stations for Standard Oil and Chevron.  Once his daughters were born, he sold the service station and began working for Overall Laundry Service with routes in Whatcom and Skagit County.  Many of his customers affectionately referred to Jim as the “Overall Man”. 

Jim spent his retirement living at the Village at Cordata where he had many close friends.  He enjoyed playing cribbage and bridge, going out for dinner with his neighbors and attending the Friday Night happy hours at the end of his block.  He also loved to put together puzzles and worked his way through most of the Village’s vast puzzle library.      

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Margaret Rhone and brother Tom. He is survived by his children, Renee (Russell) Dodds and Michelle (Jason) Gunderson; his grandchildren, Rebecca and Matthew Dodds; his brothers, Bill (Denise) Rhone, Bob Rhone, Ed (Gretchen) Rhone; his sister, Linda (Greg) Miller; sister-in-law, Tracy Rhone; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held Friday, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, September 24, 2021 at the Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 N. Harbor Loop Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225.  We would love to have you join us and share your stories and favorite memories of Jim. 

If you want to honor Jim in some way, please donate to Whatcom Hospice Foundation (2901 Squalicum Parkway – Bellingham, WA 98225).