July 1, 1958 — May 26, 2025
James Allan Ruscoe was born on July 1, 1958, in Salem Oregon to Judith Byers Ruscoe and Jack Ruscoe. He attended Salem-Keizer Public Schools graduating in 1976 from McNary High School where he was a standout wrestler and football player. He discovered his love of fishing at an early age. Following high school, he attended Oregon State University and Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
In 1980 Jim, known by many as Scoe, traveled to Valdez Alaska to attend the wedding of a fraternity brother marking the beginning of his storied adult life in the Last Frontier. Settling in Valdez, he went to work for Southwest Pilots Association, as a crew member on Pilot Boats that escorted Oil Tankers through the Valdez Narrows to dock at the Alyeska Pipeline Terminal in Valdez. During his forty-three-year career with the Southwest Pilots Association he rose to the position of Captain. He was a member of the Inland Boatman’s Union.
When Scoe liked something, he embraced it with passion. He was an avid angler who fished all over Prince Willam Sound, the Copper River Basin, the Kenai Peninsula, and Southeast Alaska. For many years he made annual trips to fish the Kenai River and was a frequent visitor to Baranof Wilderness Lodge near Sitka. He was always happy when smoking and canning fish which he did with his characteristic precision, producing jars of beautifully smoked and packed Sockeye and King Salmon from Alaska and Albacore Tuna from the Oregon Coast.
Scoe was a diehard Oakland Raiders fan, never missing an opportunity to see them play. He attended Raiders games at the Oakland Coliseum and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. In Oct. 2024 he traveled to enjoy a game at the Raiders’ new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
After learning to tie Mariners knots Scoe spent many hours creating both practical and decorative Mariners Knot items. He made thousands of Monkey Fist and Turk’s Head Key Chains and Zipper Pulls, as well as larger items like Door Stops and Table Trivets made from jute, which he gave away to friends and were sold in sporting goods stores in Valdez and Homer.
Scoe met his future wife Susan Epp at the waterfront Club Valdez on a Ladies Dart Night in December 1998. The uncommitting bachelor was smitten and their romance quickly grew, moving in together in early 2000. They were married on Thanksgiving Day November 27, 2003, on the Pilot Boat Emerald Island at Rocky Point in Prince William Sound.
Scoe and Susan liked to travel. He enjoyed traveling to Kansas City spending time with Susan’s family and was called “Grandpa Scoe” by her grandchildren. They traveled to Oregon annually to visit family and the Oregon Coast. Canning Albacore Tuna during these trips was a family affair Scoe enjoyed immensely. They enjoyed the Hawaiian beaches of Kauai and the Big Island and frequented Las Vegas to see shows and visit the casinos.
Jim was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in May 2022. He continued to work until November 16, 2024, and was scheduled to retire from the Inland Boatman’s Union on May 31, 2025. He died on May 26, 2025.
Jim is survived by his wife Susan Ruscoe of Valdez; parents, Judith Ruscoe and Jack Ruscoe both of Salem, Oregon; brothers Jon Ruscoe of Portland and Jeff Ruscoe (Denise) of Salem; and Susan’s sons Phillip Chapman of Overland Park, Kansas, and William Chapman (Susan) of Independence, Missouri. In addition to several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life is pending. Ashes will be spread at Rocky Point in Prince William Sound at a later date.