James Raney

James Oscar “Jim” Raney of Bainbridge Island died on August 9, surrounded by family, at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Carolynn, and children Liz (Tom), Susie (Tim), Tom (Yuzi) and Mary (Keith), as well as grandchildren David, Megan, Erin, Will, Cate, Grace, Benjamin, and Rebecca. Jim was preceded in death by grandson Sam.

Jim’s parents were Mildred and Harry Raney. After his mother’s death when Jim was 9, he and his little sister Joan moved in with their maternal Aunt Edith.

Jim grew up doing well at school, winning state swimming championships and eventually becoming a lifeguard. His interest in rowing began with a dingy he used as a lifeguard at Pt. Defiance Park in Tacoma. He once used this dingy to row his future wife all the way to Vashon Island, and his interest in rowing continued for the rest of his life. The highlight of his rowing career was building a beautiful racing boat of his own with his dear friend and cousin, Martin. That boat went on to win many races with Jim, Marty, and other family members and friends at the oars, and earlier this summer Jim was working with his son Tom to refurbish it.

Jim decided he wanted to go to college without borrowing money from anyone, and he succeeded, graduating from Washington State with a degree in zoology and a hot fiancée named Carolynn.

Jim was just out of medical school and his psychiatric residency when he was called to join the Army during the Vietnam War. He served as chief psychiatrist at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. After the Army, Jim built a psychiatric practice of his own. He also became known for his contributions to the field of psychoanalysis that was emerging at that time. Along with his private practice, he taught and served on several boards while engaging in lively discussions with colleagues far and near. He continued seeing patients until he was eighty years old.

Jim proposed to Carol with his mother’s wedding ring, and they married in 1958. Their eldest daughter Liz came along a few years later, while Jim was completing his medical residency, and their second daughter, Susie, arrived while Jim was in the Army. Tom was born after Jim had started his private practice in Seattle, and Mary made it an even “four” after the family had relocated to Medina.

In addition to his medical practice, Jim was a cyclist, marathoner, kayaker, rower, and mountain climber. He made beautiful things with wood and delighted his children and grandchildren with hand-drawn cartoons and other funny things that would arrive unexpectedly by mail. To the very end, his greatest treasure, and greatest pleasure, was his family. He was deeply in love with Carol, whom he correctly described for their entire marriage as being a very beautiful woman. He loved his children deeply as well, and it has been a pleasure in recent days for them to hear each other’s evidence of this, as he made a point of sharing special interests and activities with each of them. He was fiercely protective of his family members and friends, and he had many of both.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 15, at 2 pm at IslandWood, 4450 Blakely Ave. NE, on Bainbridge Island. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission or Peninsula Community Health Services in Jim’s honor.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA.