Jim Rodney Gard was born in Seattle on Christmas Day in 1933 and passed away at the age of 91 on September 26, 2025 in Mesa, AZ.

Jim was raised in Enumclaw and graduated in 1952. Jim excelled in football, basketball and baseball for the Hornets. He led them as the QB and DB to a Puget Sound League Football Championship in 1950.

In his White River senior year, Jim hit the first home run out of the newly renovated Pete’s Pool Baseball Park and Jim won a number of prizes from the community/clubs. In 1952, Jim played in the All State Baseball game at Seattle’s Sick’s Stadium.

Jim attended Western Washington University and played Quarterback on the football team and Second Base on the baseball team for four years.

In the midst of his college years, Jim served 2 years in the Army at Fort Ord, CA and for a short time in Berlin Germany. Jim returned to Western for 2 years to graduate with a Math Education degree in 1958.

Jim’s first teaching position was in Camas, WA, in 1958. He taught math and geometry. He was an assistant coach in football and basketball, and the head coach in baseball for the Camas Papermakers. He assisted two future Washington Hall of Fame coaches: Dick Armstrong (football) and John Stahl (basketball). When Dick Armstrong left for Snohomish in 1966, Jim took over as the head football coach for Camas.

In 1968, Jim moved his family to Auburn, WA and became a teacher/coach at the newly built Thomas Jefferson High School in the Federal Way School District. Jim taught math and was an assistant football coach and the head baseball coach for the TJ Raiders. In 1971, Jim took over as head football coach.

Jim was the head baseball coach of the TJ Raiders for 30 years. In 1971, he was named Washington State Baseball Coach of the Year. He led the effort to start state baseball playoffs, which began in 1973. Jim is both a member of the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Federal Way Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

In retirement, Jim and his wife Donna became snowbirds, heading south to enjoy sunny Arizona. They made many friends at Valle Del Oro Park in Mesa and spent 27 winters there, enjoying tennis, hiking and community gatherings. Upon arriving in Mesa, Jim and Donna were greeted by college friends Bruce and Kay Randall. Jim had played alongside Bruce in college in both football and baseball while at Western. Jim and Bruce teamed up in Arizona for many years of competitive tennis and friendship.

A devoted husband, Jim enjoyed spending time with his family. He will be deeply missed.

Jim’s proudest legacy is his family. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Donna, his sister Myrtle Feldenzer, his four children Jim (Connie), Leslie (Scott), Susanne (Peter), and Jay (Marika) and 8 grandchildren Holly, Darcy, Rachel, Alyson, Clara, Amanda, Kyle, and Alexander.

Jim’s final resting place will be the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

No services will be held.