James C. Duff was born in Walla Walla, WA on July 17,1934 to Cecil E Duff and Esther L Tobin Duff. When he was 18 months old the family moved to Bend, OR. He attended St. Francis Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from Bend High School in 1952, where he excelled in baseball and was granted a baseball scholarship to Oregon State College. While in college, he met Caroline Pond and upon graduating from OSC in June 1956, he became engaged to Caroline. The couple was married in Bend, OR on August 18, 1956. They made their first home in Brookings, OR where Jim began his teaching career. In March 1957, Jim was to be drafted into the US Army but was deferred until the end of the school year. After basic training at Fort Ord, CA he was sent to Ft. Belvoir, VA. As his time on active duty was nearing the end, he applied for a direct commission into the Army Reserve.
Jim served in the 321st General Hospital, which was redesignated the 45th Station Hospital stationed at Vancouver Barracks, WA. He retired in February 1981 at the rank of Major.
Jim began teaching school at Sandy Elementary School in August of 1969, retiring June of 1989.
Jim was very active in community service beginning with the Planning Commission. In 1968 he was elected to the Sandy City Council, spending the next 24 years on the council. He was then elected to the Sandy Rural Fire District Board of Directors. He also became active in the Oregon Fire District Directors Association and became state president of the organization in 1994.
In 1995 he decided he had been away from education long enough and was elected to the Sandy Elementary School Board of Directors. In 1997 three neighboring elementary districts consolidated with the Sandy Union High School to become Oregon Trail School District.
Along the way, he became interested in genealogy and he and Caroline spent many vacations touring the country, meeting all sorts of relatives. He arranged several family reunions for many cousins in Mitchell, SD. He was responsible for acquainting a Canadian cousin with many relatives by showing him that he had been going by the wrong family name all his life.
Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Caroline; daughters Jeanne Sator (Steve), Joni Duff (Tim) and Judi Duff as well as grandson Joshua Reasoner (Renee) and three great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Jack Duff.
The family suggests in Lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Sandy Rural Fire District or House call Providers (5100 SW Macadam Ave, STE. 200, Portland, OR 97239)