James Claude Hird

James Claude “Jim” Hird passed peacefully in his sleep at age 84, after battling pulmonary fibrosis. Jim was well known as a musician specializing in the Pedal Steel guitar. Jim was born July 9, 1940 in Chico, Ca to Joseph Preston and Beaulah Marie [Girtman] Hird. The family later moved to the Scio, Oregon area.

Jim was a dedicated lifetime musician who wrote, played and sang in country music groups as well as his one-man shows. He repaired organs, later learning to retrofit custom parts that required programming machine language and electronics.

Jim assembled, tuned and sold pianos for Weathers Music for decades until it closed.

He passed on December 31, 2024 at his home In Salem, Oregon

He is survived by his wife Manuela, brother Ronald, sons James and Allan, grandchildren Megan, Thea, Skyler and Darius as well as nieces, nephews and extended family in Oregon and Nebraska.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Beaulah - and his sisters Maxine Gibson and Sheila Shaw.