At 12:15 pm on Saturday, October 10, 2026, James Pankey, 86, passed away at Silver Creek Senior Living in Woodburn, Oregon. He was born to Charles and Mabel Pankey on December 6, 1939, at home in Dupo, Illinois. He married Patsy Sager on June 14, 2010, and always said she was his lifelong love and companion. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles; his mother, Mabel; and his sisters Charlene Marshall, Carol Scott of East Carondelet, Kay Mennemeyer of Festus, Missouri, and Debbie Shondy of Dupo, Illinois, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was survived by his wife, Patsy Sager Pankey; sisters Annette Higgerson of East Carondelet, IL, Carol Scott of East Carondelet, Kay Mennemeyer of Festus, MO, and Debby Shondy of Dupo, IL. After retiring from the US Navy, he loved fishing and spent many years living in his motorhome at Lake Moredock in Valmeyer, Illinois. He loved the outdoors and was a great naturalist. He served 20 years in the Navy as a parachute rigger, with the lives of many airmen in his hands as he packed parachutes so they wouldn’t fail. He took up photography and was very good, with over 2000 of his pictures online. The site held his pictures for many years until the platform was officially discontinued. All were copied to an external hard drive. He was published in a California magazine and won many awards. He just had a good eye. If you would like to donate in Jim's honor, please send donations to his favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.