James Lester Duncan Jr. Nov. 6, 1969 - Dec. 27, 2018 James Lester Duncan Jr., a Walla Walla County Commissioner, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 27, 2018, at age 49. Jim was born on November 6, 1969, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to James L. Duncan and Gayle Lachney. Upon graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane as a Nuclear Weapons Officer. In 2007, he became an Emergency Management Coordinator for Benton County Emergency Management, then accepted the position of Emergency Management Director for Walla Walla County and began serving in that position in November of 2011. In 2014 he was elected Walla Walla County Commissioner and assumed that office on January 1, 2015. Jim had recently been re-elected to a second term as county commissioner and was to have been sworn into office the afternoon of December 27. During his career leading up to his election as county commissioner Jim was primarily involved in the field of emergency management, planning and preparedness. He served in the various positions of Munitions Accountable Systems Officer, Quality Assurance Flight Commander, and Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight Commander before taking the position with Benton County, Washington. In his position as director of the Walla Walla County Emergency Management Department he was responsible for preparing, coordinating and overseeing disaster response plans for the county, including the incorporated cities. He had a Masters of Aeronautical Science with a double major in Management and Operations from Embry-Riddle University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Criminology from Louisiana State University. Jim took a very active interest in County government both before and after his election as county commissioner. Jim and Esther were married Aug. 18, 2007, in Louisiana. They eventually purchased property in Burbank to allow the family to have a farm and other animals, a lifestyle they enjoyed. In the words of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Editorial Board, "Jim Duncan made Walla Walla County a better place". Although his commissioner responsibilities were important to him and he represented all county citizens well, above all else he cherished his family and family came first. When he loved he loved hard. He is survived by his wife Esther and four children: daughter, Mackenzie of Spokane; and three sons, Christian, Jason, and Gabriel at the home. His mother, Gayle Lachney of Louisiana; and sisters, Tanya and Kathy also survive him. Jim is described by his wife, Esther as staunch patriot, devoted public servant, faithful catholic, and overall an extraordinary loving father. Services will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Pasco at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019, followed by a graveside service and burial in Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla at approximately 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Baker Boyer Bank for educational funds for Jim's boys. Courtesy