James Elijah Ollivant

James "Jim" Elijah Ollivant
Jim was born August 22, 1938, to Delbert Dean and Aethel Grace Ollivant in Roseburg, Oregon. He spent the first years of his life in Lookingglass until the family moved to Roseburg on Bradford Dr. He worked on the family dairy in Lookingglass as a teenager and graduated from Roseburg High School in 1956. He joined the US Army and was stationed in Lyon, France. He had fond memories of visiting Paris and London and one of his favorite things to say while watching a movie with family was "been there!"
He married Mary Francis Woolley in December of 1961 and had 2 children, Kimberly Kay and Timothy Dean. The couple divorced in 1966.
He married Kathleen Beth Cason on July 26, 1970, and had 4 more children, Kellee Teresa, Lisa Anne, Tracie Dianne, and Jill Kathleen. They settled on Lookingglass Rd., and he took great pride in building his own home, digging out one of the basements by hand. He worked at Roseburg Motors as a parts purchaser until he accepted the parts purchaser position at Roseburg Forest Products in the truck shop on Diamond Lake Blvd. He retired from Roseburg Forest Products in 2002. Kathleen preceded him in death in 2004.
He married Gerry Johnson, and they moved to Bronco Dr. where he enjoyed his retirement, reading scripture and going to church with Gerry, restoring his many classic cars and working around the property.
Jim found a love of golf and enjoyed golfing with several of his long-time friends for over 3 decades. He was also an avid bowler and bowled in Roseburg leagues most of his adult life. He enjoyed Roseburg High School Football games and had season tickets for many years. He was a yearly participant in the Umpqua Flatheads Graffiti Weekend and restored a 1947 Chevy which took many awards through the years both in Roseburg and at the Sutherlin Blackberry Festival. Jim began a 4-H sheep project with his children in 1980 and found a passion for raising Registered Suffolk Sheep. Through this passion, he designed and built a barn, on the property he loved. He became the leader of the Lookingglass Ranchers 4-H Club and some of his happiest times were spent in the River Arena Sheep Barn during the Douglas County Fair.
He is survived by his wife, Gerry, 6 children, 12 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and 2 sisters. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Meghan Alyssa Ollivant.
A viewing will be held at Wilson's Chapel of the Roses in Roseburg, Oregon, on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 11am-12pm. A service will follow at 12:00 PM in the Chapel. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM at Roseburg Memorial Gardens. A Celebration of Life to share our love for and stories of Jim will begin at 3:00 PM at Abby's Pizza, 1661 NE Stephens St., Roseburg, OR.