James 'Jim' Edward Blaine, 86

James Edward Blaine, born to Harry and Ethel Blaine on Dec. 24, 1938, at Mrs. Olund’s Maternity Home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away peacefully Sept. 27, 2025.

Jim was raised at Twin Lakes, Idaho, where he attended Twin Lakes Community School until fourth grade, and then in Rathdrum, where he graduated from high school in 1956. Jim joined the Marine Corps in early 1958 and served most of his time in the South Pacific on Navy vessels. In 1961, Jim came home to support his family after his father passed away. He then attended the University of Idaho, where he supported himself as a Moscow police officer and in the summer, he was a smokejumper. After graduating in 1963, Jim became a full-time smokejumper in Missoula, Mont. In 1966, he met and later married the love of his life, Sylvia White, with whom he shared 59 years of marriage. They were married in McGrath, Alaska, where Jim was the foreman of a smokejumper crew. Later, Jim took a job in Marana, Ariz., where he was involved in special programs to design and develop parachutes for use in military applications. In 1967, Jim and Sylvia moved back to Twin Lakes, Idaho, with their newborn daughter, Katy, and Jim’s daughter, Tammy, from his first marriage. Jim worked for Diamond International and, in 1973, was appointed the new plant head at Albeni Falls, Idaho. Over the next few years, Jim and Sylvia had two sons, Sean and Rial. In early 1971, they moved into their current home and have lived there for almost 56 years. After leaving Diamond, Jim cruised timber land, sold timber property and eventually decided to start his own logging company, Timber Services Inc. Jim successfully ran his business until he retired in his late 60s. Jim was a timber man through and through and was highly regarded and respected for his expertise. There wasn’t much he didn’t know about trees and logging the forest to sustain growth for the future.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He spent many days in remote locations hunting Rocky Mountain Sheep, Mountain Lions, Mountain Goats, Dahl Sheep, Elk, Moose, Caribou and many exotic animals during a trip to Africa. Jim took many fishing trips to Alaska, Westport, Wash., or fly-fishing on a river with his fly-fishing guide sons. Jim took up scuba diving in the early 1980s, and he and Sylvia dove exciting locations in the Caribbean and Heron Island, Australia. Jim spent many summers rafting the Main Salmon, Middle Fork of the Salmon and eventually three weeks on the Colorado. Jim was always looking for the next great adventure.  

Jim had many close friends from childhood through his smoke jumping years and in his community. Family was very important to him, and he would have done anything for them. Most holidays were spent at the house on Twin Lakes, surrounded by family and friends at Jim’s request. 

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Ethel Blaine; his brother, Donald Blaine; his sister, Cheryl Blaine; and his daughter, Tammy Allen. Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sylvia Blaine; his daughter, Katy Bragg (Robert Bragg); his sons, Sean Blaine and Rial Blaine (Christina Blaine); and his grandchildren: Erika Allen, Kirk Allen, Kris Bragg (Shelby Bragg), Kaitlyn Bragg, Lauren Massie, Finnan Blaine, Christian Blaine; and his great-grandchildren: Kyren Allen, Sirus Allen, Lakelee Bragg and James Bragg. Jim will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Toys for Tots, Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the Shriners, organizations he believed in and supported.  

Memorial services will be held at Yates Funeral Home, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden Lake, ID 83835, on Oct. 11, 2025, at 2 p.m. A reception will be held at his home in Twin Lakes immediately following the service.

Please visit Jim’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.