Jimmie Lee Huff
October 28, 1929 - August 3, 2024
Captain Jimmie Lee Huff passed away in Vancouver, Wash., on August 3, 2024. Born October 28, 1929, Jim was the only child of E.C. (Clete) and Virginia Lee Huff. Growing up, Jim attended 13 different public schools (K-12) in the states of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Florida and California. Jim's dad, Clete, taught him to fly starting in 1945, with his first flight instruction in a J-3 Cub at Logan Field, Billings, Mont. Upon graduation from High School in 1947, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army, earning rank of Sergeant. After his Honorable Discharge in late 1948, Jim continued his flying instruction from his father at Clete's FBO in Columbus, Mont., where they lived adjacent to the air hangars in a small home built by Jim's dad.
Jim attended college at EMCOE Billings and MSC Bozeman. He was the Cadet Colonel of the AFROTC his senior year and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. upon graduation in 1953. Hired by United Airlines in January 1955, Jim flew the DC-3, 6 & 7; Convair 340; Caravelle; B-720; B-727 (his favorite); and the DC-10. During his long career with United, Jim was based in MDW-DEN-SFO-EWR-LAX and SEA. In 1957, Jim met the love of his life, Vera Butler, a UAL Stewardess based in SEA. As stewardesses were not allowed to be married at that time in history, Vera retired and raised her and Jim's two children, daughter, Deborah, and son, Ward.
Growing up, Jim enjoyed many sports, spending many years hunting and fishing with his father. Later in life, Jim shared his love of the outdoors with his family, partaking in skiing (snow/water), fishing, camping and many other fun family adventures.
At age 45, Jim took up the sport of golf and joined his wife (a golf champion in her own right) in the love of the sport. In 1989, Jim retired from UAL and settled in Fairway Village, a golf community in Vancouver, Wash. Starting in 1997, Jim and Vera spent their winters on the island of Molokai, Hawaii.
Vera passed away in September of 2023. Jim is survived by his children and a granddaughter. Jim and Vera will be laid to rest in late Spring of 2025 at Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, Mont.
