James Wayne Criswell was called home to be with the Lord on February 13, 2002. He died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco, WA after a lengthy illness.

He was born December 5, 1931 in Lone Wolf, OK to Roscoe and Tressia CriswellBalenger. He moved to Visalia, CA at the age of three and then to Toledo, OR at the age of eight where he lived until joining the army in 1951. After serving in the Korean War he settled in Eastern Washington where he met and married Cora Jean Morgan in 1954. Their marriage of 48 years served as a shining example of true love and devotion to all who knew them. They lived in Benton City for the next 23 years where he developed many close and lifelong friendships, especially with Rolland and Barbara Halland William and Gloria Wolfe, whom he counted not only as family but also as very dear friends.

Jim worked as a heavy equipment operator in various locations in the Pacific Northwest, was a very gifted swimmer and an avid outdoorsman. He was best known for his devotion to his family and friends and for his witty, dry sense of humor. He was a loving and much-Ioved man who will be sorely missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him.

He is survived by his wife Cora Jean Criswell of Grandview, WA; brother Coy and wife Patricia Criswell, sister Lillian and husband Ray Gill all of Visalia, CA, sister Faye Clark of Prineville, OR, daughter Kathy and Dan Norwood and grandson Cody Newberry of Benton City, WA, son Terry and Kathy Criswell and grandchildren Travis, Maegan and Tyler of Prosser, W A, daughter Teena Criswell and grandson Gerben Leyendekker of Carson, W A, his nieces and nephews who were so special to him, his special childhood friend Dwight Ruminer and wife Edna of Visalia, CA and other dear family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents,sisters Wanda Lee Criswell, Geraldine Smith and Myrtle Flanery , Grandson Dustin Criswell, nephews Jim Wolfe and Doug Fry and niece Kimberly Clark.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. February 23,2002 at the Baptist Church.7th. St Benton City W A. A reception will follow at the Legion Hall in Benton City. In lieu flowers, donations may be made to the Tri-City Chaplaincy Hospice 2108 W. Entiat Ave. Kenn. W A 99336 or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 120 Wall St. NY NY 10005.