Recent Obituaries

Loving Husband, Dad & Granddad and Retired Mayor for the City of Tukwila, WA, Jim passed peacefully at home on Veteran’s Day in the care of his devoted family after a lengthy battle with Metastatic Colon Cancer.

Born in Mountainair, NM to Lorene & Forest Haggerton, the second of three sons, Jim grew up in Carlsbad NM, excelled in school, and graduated high school with honors. Boys State sparked his interest in government, “Key Club” focused on building character, and developing leadership. Fun activities included being a cheerleader and playing baseball for the Carlsbad Cavemen – he loved baseball!

Jim studied accounting at the University of New Mexico before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1954. After boot camp at Camp Pendleton, he was enrolled at Treasure Island Naval Base SF in a 42-week course for the first ever graduating class of Radio Relay Technicians/Specialists. They would become responsible for the design, installation, connection and operation of communication networks throughout the entire Marine Air-Ground task force. His area, Islands in the Pacific.

His first week home from the Marines, July 1957, Jim met Carol Copeland from Seattle. They dated for a week (taking in a baseball game on the 4th ), wrote letters for a year as he continued his studies at UNM-Carlsbad, and were married July 1, 1958 in Tukwila, WA where they began life’s journey together for the next 63+ years. They were blessed with two children – daughter Terri (Ed Woyvodich), son Carey (Rachel Wieser) Haggerton, and four grandchildren – Taylor & Cale Woyvodich, Cody & Blake Haggerton. He treasured them all and was there to encourage and support them throughout the years. He loved family gatherings, vacations with kids and grandkids (Washington D.C. a must), fishing, camping (Teanaway), history, performing arts, concerts, road trips, and SPORTS of all kinds – especially the Washington Huskies, the Seattle home teams, and “baseball”. He played, coached, umpired, and sponsored multiple teams for years. He was an avid fan and a baseball guru with an amazing memory for stats.

Jim’s business ventures took him from the Boeing Co in 1958 to N C Machinery Co of Washington and Alaska in 1959, where he held multiple positions from Credit Manager, Parts Manager/Inventory Control to Seattle Branch Manager. He traveled extensively throughout Alaska, the Yukon Territory and the lower states, while building lifelong friendships. He retired from NC in Tukwila in 1979 after 20 years with the company.

In 1972 Jim moved his family to Tukwila, and as he became more involved in his community and Rotary International, he was an advocate for local businesses, representative for Boys & Girls State programs, advisor for Junior Achievement, and hosted foreign exchange students. He was appointed Government Representative to the Tukwila School Advisory Board for Education Reform by Governor Gregoire where he served for 10 years. He was President of Southcenter Rotary 1984-1985, was appointed to Tukwila’s Planning Commission, and founded HACO Services Inc in 1986.

Jim faithfully served the City of Tukwila for 30 years, including nine on the Planning Commission, thirteen on the City Council, and eight as Mayor before retiring on December 31, 2015. ​He had a passion for and a commitment to helping others and served on dozens of committees and regional and national boards including: Association of Washington Cities, Cascade Water Alliance, Sound Cities Association, Valley Communication Board, SCORE (South Correctional Entity), King County EMS Regional Services Committee, and National League of Cities ITC Steering Committee, just to name a few.

While working diligently to secure financial stability and a safe environment for Tukwila’s residents, he successfully spearheaded dozens of major development and public infrastructure projects that have benefitted the entire region including a permanent Tukwila Commuter Rail and Amtrak Station, Klickitat Interchange, Southcenter Parkway, the South Park Bridge, Tukwila Village, etc. Under Jim’s watch the city adopted its first biennial budget and he oversaw the development of the city’s strategic plan, which continues to guide them today. He loved the people of his city and community and was extremely grateful to all for their years of support.

Upon his retirement from the City of Tukwila, Jim was presented certificates of tribute in recognition of his service, and documents honoring him were read as part of the congressional record at our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. during the 1st Session of the 114th Congress. Washington State Representative Adam Smith read a proclamation in the House of Representatives on December 1st , 2015, and on December 3rd , 2015 (recorded Vol. 161 No. 175), Washington State Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell read a commemoration on the Senate Floor, all outlining his numerous and significant accomplishments.

AS a member of Tukwila’s American Legion Post 235 and past Commander from 2006-2008, Jim was an outspoken ambassador for all veterans at every opportunity, giving his support, time and energy to Memorial & Veteran’s Day programs, visiting vets in the hospital, and keeping the plights and needs of our veterans before Congressional Representatives. He was very proud to be an American and a United States Marine Corps Veteran.

His love of God, family, friends, country and community, and his commitment to service above self is evident in the way he lived his life. He always had a kind word and a ready smile, and his signature laugh was infectious! He leaves a lasting impact on so many, and he is greatly missed.

A Military service and Inurnment will be at Tahoma National Veteran’s Cemetery in Kent, WA, April 15, 2022 at 11:00 am. A celebration of life reception is planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers, suggestions for donations include Fred Hutch Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Hospital, or a preferred local charity.