James Walter Doggett, 92, of Elephant Butte, NM, passed away on May 7, 2018 in Rio Rancho, NM due to a stroke.

Jim was born on October 5,1925 in Boone, IA to a farming family and spent the first years of his life following the grain harvest season, share cropping, and managing the family farm. Because of the stock market crash and several years of drought, Jim’s family sold the farm, moved to Lyons, CO and managed an apple orchard and egg farm. The practical knowledge, skills, resourcefulness, and work ethic Jim acquired on the farm as a boy would shape the man to come. At age 13, Jim left the farm to attend Champion Academy, a private high school in Loveland, where he became Valedictorian of his graduating class. Jim then served in the Navy as a Medic, was a mucking-machine operator in tunnel excavations, and built and operated a classic 50’s style diner with his brother on Pearl Street in Boulder. After graduating from Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, Jim worked in Fort Morgan as a radio station manager, and started a boat dealership. Here he met his wife, Bonnie. They married in 1958 and moved to Albuquerque where Jim embarked upon a long career as an electrical engineer at Sandia National Labs. Jim and several of his CTI classmates, who were also Sandia engineers, formed close friendships that would unite their families for years to come. Jim and his friends built their own campers and took their wives and children on camping and boating excursions to lakes and National Parks. Jim’s love of water and Bonnie’s love of the mountains lead them to take on two vacation home-building projects. Jim built his first lake house at Elephant Butte on weekends and vacation time. Jim always took breaks from his building projects to make time for family fun. Jim taught his children and their friends to waterski, drive a boat, and ride trail motorcycles. After saying he would never build another house, he started his second house at Vallecito Lake while still working at Sandia. Jim said this house was his greatest physical accomplishment. Jim and Bonnie made several trips to Europe, then retired in 1991 and spent their time enjoying the two lake houses, their Spring excursions to California, and visiting with their grandchildren. Jim will be remembered by his friends and family as a fair and confident man who was dedicated to his priorities, which always centered around his family, friends, career, and projects.

Jim is survived by his three daughters, Scotia Kurowski, Jamie Robinson, and Suzanna Hernandez; by his seven granddaughters, Shannon, Olivia, Jillian, Ariana, Ellyn, Bridget, and Allison; his sister, Virginia Hutchisson; and brother, John Doggett.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie “Scotty” Campbell Doggett; and brother, Marion “Murf” Doggett.