Mary 'Amy' James

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Tuesday, 17 November 2015 12:27

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Mary “Amy” James, who lived most of her life in Juneau and Sitka, passed away Nov. 10 at SEARHC-Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. She was 97.

She was born Mary Takesado on Dec. 18, 1917, at St. Ann’s Hospital in Juneau, the daughter of Jennie Mercado and Ike Takesado. She grew up at Tee Harbor, where her ashes will be sprinkled.

She attended Sheldon Jackson School, then returned to Juneau. From there she married John James, and they had three sons she adored – Jerry, Bob and Ronald. They grew up on West 7th Street in Juneau.

In her early years, Amy worked at Juneau Cold Storage. While a little girl, she learned how to wait on tables at the City Cafe from Mr. Tanaka. He was a good teacher – Amy became one of the best waitresses throughout her life. Earlier this year, Mr. Tanaka’s daughters Alice and Mary Tanaka visited Amy at the Pioneers Home, and she told them stories from way back about their brother Johnny, “the empty chair,”  and baby-sitting him before World War II broke out.

In 1952, the James family moved to Seattle and lived there until 1981 when she and her husband came to Sitka. After his death she returned to Seattle, and in 1995 she and her son Bob returned to Sitka for the last time.

Some of the places where she worked over the years were the Diaz Cafe in Juneau; the Kansas City Steak House, The Alley Cat and The Unique Cafe, all in Seattle; Blazes Broiler in Ballard, Wash.; and Staton’s Pioneer Grill in Sitka.

Amy was an outgoing and talented lady. She could make moccasins, croquet, knit, grow beautiful flowers – you name it, she could do it. Amy also knew how to treat people well, and everybody loved her.

She greatly enjoyed traveling, and was lucky enough to go with a grandson, Don, to Guam, Australia, New Zealand and Palau; with her sister Helen to Hawaii and Tahiti; and over the years to Mexico.

She never missed going out clam digging and fishing with her sister Maggie and brother-in-law Pat Verney.

“She never let anyone leave her behind!” a sister said.

Amy was a cat lover. She never got over losing her cat Snowy, but her family’s sure she’s with him in heaven.

Amy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John James; brother George Mercado; sister Martha Stroup Hamilton; nephew Jackie Hamilton; daughter-in-law Esther James; and grandson Doug James.

She is survived by her sons, Jerry James (Joan) of Seattle and Bob James and Ronald James of Sitka; sisters Maggie Verney and Helen Mercado, both of Sitka; brother Ed Mercado of Seattle; grandchildren Don James, Bruce James, Brian James and Berta David; nephews Pat Hamilton, Jackie Hamilton, Dan Natkong, Gene Natkong, Donald Natkong Jr., Chris Mercado, Mark Mercado and Mike Mercado.

Her great-grandsons are Vincent David and Kevin David of Sitka; and great-granddaughters are Alexa Vallejo, Sage Mary James and Ekaterina James, all of Seattle.

She also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Those wishing  to express their condolences can contact Jerry James, 9539 4th Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98117, phone (206) 783-8817; or Ron James, 447 Verstovia St., Sitka, AK 99835, phone (907) 738-5371.

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