In the early morning hours of Friday, January 12, 1996, Pastor James Frank Durkin passed quietly from this world to his eternal reward in heaven. Born in Chicago, November 12, 1925, Jim Durkin eventually moved to the west coast. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy, having completed officer candidate training. In 1946 he came to the Hoopa area where he worked for the U.S. Forest Service. As a young man he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was called to the ministry. He met and married Dacie Pearl James of Myrtle Point, Oregon, on May 19, 1948. Jim pastored various churches in northern California and Oregon. He was a real estate broker and owned Sequoia Realty in Eureka from 1966 to 1971.
In the summer of 1970 several young "Jesus People" came into his life and thus began twenty five years of a Christian ministry that reached many thousands of people with the love of God and the hope of eternal salvation. In the winter of 1971 Jim and Dacie closed their real estate business and moved to Lighthouse Ranch to provide leadership for a growing group of Christian young people. He taught the Bible, trained young men and women for Christian ministry and helped many people enter a life of service in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The ministry of Lighthouse Ranch and its parent organization, Gospel Outreach, expanded in size and influence far beyond anything Jim expected. Missionaries and church-planters went from Eureka to cities and countries around the world, from as far as Europe to Japan, and Alaska to Brazil. Today many pastors and missionaries trace their early spiritual roots to Jim's influence in their lives.
In Eureka Jim pastored Gospel Outreach Christian Center for many years. He also owned New Life Service Company, a fire restoration business. He was instrumental in supporting many of the activities of the Senior Center, where he had made many good friendships. Jim was seen regularly walking at the Bayshore Mall, enjoying the company of many people. Though not particularly prominent in civic or political affairs, it is doubtful that anyone in this community affected more people's lives through one-on-one friendship, care and concern.
Jim never made a distinction among the people he met, treating presidents of nations and recovering alcoholics with the same respect and courtesy. As for hobbies, Jim was an avid reader and enjoyed studying the investment markets. But his greatest interest was in people, making friendships and helping people succeed in life. Jim often said that when he passed away he wished that he would be remembered as a peacemaker. He certainly was.
Jim is survived by his loving and devoted wife Dacie, his children and grandchildren: a son and daughter-in-law, John and Robyn Durkin of Costa Mesa, California and their children, Jeremy, Micah, Jake and Chelsea; a son and daughter-in-law,Jim and Celeste Durkin of Eureka and their children, Amy, Adam and Andrea; a daughter and son-in-law, Joy and Dale Timpany of Vancouver, Washington and their sons Joel and Dana. He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Mildred, Mary and Bonnie, and many friends around the world.
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