James E Smagala

Date of Birth

October 1, 1936

Date of Death

January 19, 2025

City of Death

Medford, OR

A Michigan native, James Edward Smagala, was the son of proud undocumented Polish immigrants Walter Smagala and Harriet Koscielski. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1954. Jim was the first in his family to receive a B.S. from Wayne State University (1960) in mechanical engineering setting up a love of life-long learning.
Jim was married to Carol Christensen in 1959. He is survived by four college educated daughters Stephanie Smagala, Karen M. Smagala, Jennifer S. Luciano (Richard), and Sharon S. Fuller (Bill), and two grandchildren; Abigail C. Luciano and Ian T. Luciano. He was Uncle Jim to many, and close friends to a select few, all of whom he deeply loved and cherished. He was a doting dad of two long-haired Dachshunds Lucy and Gracie.
Out of college, Jim worked for General Motors (GM) and was notably assigned to work on the development of hydrogen powered vehicles, and the wheels of the Lunar Moon Rover. He also worked for Terex earth moving equipment, a subsidiary of General Motors. Tired of corporate life and being transferred by GM between Ohio and Santa Barbara, CA, Jim became an entrepreneur and purchased South Coast Motor Truck in Santa Barbara in 1970. His curious mind took him to several more careers as a realtor, certified financial planner, general contractor, developer of senior housing, and local investor.
In 1994, Jim married his second wife Linda M. Ferro (deceased) in the Rose Garden at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, CA. In 2002, they became California ex-pats and moved to Medford, OR to become blueberry farmers because it reminded him of his childhood home in Michigan.
Jim loved life and lived fully!
Jim loved the outdoors and became an adventurous traveler. He backpacked with friends and daughters throughout California spending time in the Sierra Nevada and Santa Ynez mountains, the Mojave Desert and Death Valley where he collected interesting rock specimens. He learned to fly fish and subsequently taught his daughters, son-in-law, and grandson. Jim enjoyed countless adventures traveling the world catching and releasing fish on fly rods that he learned to build.
Jim appreciated art, food, literature, music and especially fine furniture. He had a wander lust that took him all over the European continent, Australia, and Mexico where his love of learning helped him refine and expand his artistic talents. Jim’s creativity will be cherished by his children, grandchildren, friends and life partner Nola Dean O’Hara for whom he crafted countless pieces of exquisite furniture and musical instruments in his home wood shop. Later in life, he used his creativity to hand stitch Portuguese Arraiolos rugs because the design, patterns and hand work appealed to his left-brain.

Jim met his third partner, Nola O’Hara in 2016 at age 79 and together they traveled, fished, picked blueberries, and enjoyed life with friends and family.
His family and friends knew Jim as a Notre Dame and sports fan who loved to engage them in cheeky wagers for bottles of good scotch or lemon meringue or mincemeat pie. He was an outspoken Democrat who enjoyed political conversation over an excellent meal with good wine where he frequently defended disadvantaged people including women, LGBTQ+IA people, immigrants and education. They also knew him as a curious, tender, crusty and sometimes salty loyal friend who had a wry sense of humor and loved an off-color joke that was well timed.
Jim passed peacefully surrounded by his family and partner and will be remembered for wearing his favorite Goorin Bros. hat and a love of fine scotch.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to:
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jackson and Josephine Counties
To give online: https://app.sharefaith.com/App/Form/ea437fbf-5e01-4009-a6b9-48cf6654a376
• Click one-time gift
• Under fund add Jackson County
• Under comments add in memory of Jim Smagala
To give by mail: Make a check payable to CASA of Jackson County and send to 409 N. Front Street, Medford, Oregon 97501

Jefferson Pubic Radio
To give online: https://jpr.sou.edu/alleg/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WEBDON&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=j1fhyXY5YRKCpDRhWheQRiCxtaFReuS
• Click donate today
• Choose your payment method and amount
• Under comments or feedback add in memory of Jim Smagala
To give by mail: Make a check payable to Jefferson Public Radio, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520

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