James Wendell Shultz, 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Born April 29, 1940, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Nita Elizabeth Hess and Wendell Francis Shultz, Jim graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in education. He taught at both the college and high school levels, interspersing his teaching with adventures and a variety of interesting jobs.

Jim explored Mexico with his first family his wife, Pam, and their children, Ashley and Christopher. A lifelong learner, he developed skills as a bronze caster, woodworker, welder, and potter. In 1982, he married his second wife, Denise Paulus, and together they continued an adventure-filled life living aboard their 30-foot sailboat and later exploring the desert Southwest on foot and by jeep.

Jim found joy on a sparkling day under sail, at the top of a red mesa, behind a camera, and in the love of his wife, Denise. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2020. In his 1991 journal, he wrote that if he were to have a tombstone, it would say, "Remember me in light," a quote from his favorite play, The Fantasticks.

He is back home in the desert with these words to send him on his new journey:

May the sun warm your heart May the thunderstorms wash away your sadness May the wind lift your spirit And may this place, the red country, bring back joyful memories.

We will remember you in light.

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