Beloved ‘father of Fox Island’ and emergency preparedness leader dies at 83.

Beloved ‘father of Fox Island’ and emergency preparedness leader dies at 83.

Jim Braden, a man known and beloved for his years of service to the Fox Island community, died peacefully at his home July 9 after a prolonged illness, according to loved ones. He was 83 years old.

"It is with much sadness that we share the news of the passing of Jim Braden, our beloved leader, advocate and friend," the FICRA Building Trust, the island's main volunteer organization, posted on Facebook July 16. "Jim served his community faithfully and earnestly right up to the minute he left this earth on Thursday, July 9th."

Described as a "fatherly" figure who loved his family, supporting younger generations and serving the community, Braden rubbed shoulders with many leaders in the greater Gig Harbor area, from Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Chief Dennis Doan to Peninsula School District Board President Natalie Wimberly. He was known for his gentle demeanor and ability to get along with everyone he met, according to those who knew him.

"It did not matter where you came from or where you were on your own path, he felt the need to share pearls of wisdom, show genuine support and provide tools for your success," his daughter, Kim Braden, wrote in a statement to The News Tribune Friday. " ... He and my mom both believe in volunteer work and putting effort into bettering the community. They worked tirelessly and selflessly to provide safe spaces for the community to grow and thrive."

The family would like donations in Braden's memory to go to the FICRA Building Trust, Kim Braden wrote.

Born Aug. 1, 1942, Braden grew up near Burien but spent much of his career traveling around the country for his work as an engineer and an executive for Chevron, friends told The News Tribune. He and his wife, Carolyn Braden, formerly owned the Fox Island Fishing Pier property and returned to the island during Braden's retirement years. For years, Braden played an instrumental role in the FICRA Building Trust, formerly known as the Fox Island Community and Recreation Association, where he held multiple roles including president. He most recently served as director of buildings and grounds, according to FICRA Board President Arlyn Lawrence.

"You could maybe call him the father of Fox Island," Lawrence said in a phone call Wednesday. " ... if you want to be involved in what's going on in the community on Fox Island, he was the connector and the fearless leader."

Braden is survived by his wife, Carolyn Braden, his children Kim Braden (spouse Jerry Fields) and Ryan Braden (spouse Tawni Braden), and three grandchildren, Shasta Fields, Jake Braden and Jazmin Braden.

Memorial services will be held at the Nichols Community Center, date to be determined, Lawrence told The News Tribune, and those who wish to attend can check the FICRA website or follow the FICRA Facebook page for details.

As FICRA's director of building and grounds, Braden was in charge of maintaining the property and facilities at the Nichols Community Center, Lawrence said. The building at 690 9th Ave. serves as a central hub for the island and hosts numerous social functions including weddings, concerts and movie nights. Formerly a schoolhouse, the center was built in 1934 by the Works Progress Administration and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to FICRA's website. FICRA purchased the building from the Peninsula School District in 2002.

Craig McLaughlin, another longtime FICRA member and director, said that Braden wasn't a person who would write out instructions.

"He'd bring his tools. He'd bring his shovels. He'd bring everything he needed to do the work himself if he had any capability," McLaughlin said. "... He would never say, 'We need to get this done. Let's go find somebody.' He'd say, 'I'll do it tomorrow.'"

Braden was involved in a lot more than just the community center. He worked on "anything to do with the betterment of the island," said FICRA member Doug Nelson. After Pierce County released a report showing that the Fox Island Bridge was in bad shape, Braden and Nelson were part of a committee to discuss what would happen if the bridge collapsed, such as in a major earthquake. The group made calls, collected medical supplies and emergency fuel, and put together an emergency plan for the island's residents. They also built a radio room in the basement of the Nichols Community Center and established a command center for emergency communications if a disaster took out cell service to the island. It's now home base for the Fox Island Amateur Radio Club, which Braden helped found.

"And just remember, Jim was the guy behind it all," Nelson said, adding that Braden put most of the work into Fox Island Ready, a website dedicated to emergency preparedness with a detailed manual for Fox Island families. The manual includes instructions, information about volunteer teams who will respond in an emergency and a diagram showing those who have stepped up to lead — with Jim Braden's name at the top, under "Commander."

In a phone call, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Chief Dennis Doan spoke highly of Braden's emergency preparedness efforts. The two became friends after Doan arrived in Gig Harbor, and the partnership Braden helped forge with the fire department around emergency management was "the gold standard," Doan said.

"He was doing it exactly right and he was serving his community well," he said. "And it just really saddens and hurts my heart that he passed away. I lost my friend."

In April 2025, FICRA recognized Jim Braden, Craig McLaughlin and Fire Chief Dennis Doan with certificates for their efforts to get the Washington Surveying & Rating Bureau (WSRB), an independent not-for-profit organization that provides data to insurance companies in Washington state, to improve their fire protection ratings on Fox Island.

Previous ratings had "caused many Fox Island residents to face steep increases in insurance premiums and in some cases, even lose coverage entirely," Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One posted on Facebook last year. "Thanks to the determination and advocacy of Chief Doan, Craig, and Jim, the WSRB recently completed a reassessment and reinstated the island's previous, more favorable rating, leading to lower insurance premiums and meaningful savings for local taxpayers."

Though he was a staunch advocate for Fox Island, Braden was also known for his gentle temperament. Many spoke of his heart for young people: Braden served as the liaison between FICRA and the Fox Island Scouts and participated in a CTE advisory group for the Peninsula School District. He also regularly volunteered to do mock interviews through the school district to help students prepare for the workforce.

Natalie Wimberly, speaking for herself and not on behalf of the Peninsula School District board, said she wanted people to remember Braden as someone who "walked the walk."

"He didn't just talk about things," Wimberly said. "He showed up. He showed up at every meeting. He came with solutions. He cared about the people who were being impacted by decisions."

Gina Olson, a Fox Island resident who volunteered for seven years as FICRA's secretary, told The News Tribune that Braden helped resolve a situation a few years ago, when a group of kids drove their cars onto the Nichols Community Center field and tore up the grass. Rather than pursue legal action against the culprits, Braden suggested they have the kids split the cost of the dirt and rake it themselves, a move that many parents were grateful for, she said.

Another time, a kid vandalized part of the Nichols Community Center. "And (Braden) basically knocked on the door, took the kid under his wing and the kid ended up helping him fix it," she said.

"Can't reproduce people like Jim Braden," she said, through tears.

Fox Island resident Scott Martinson owns an autobody shop on South Tacoma Way, where he painted Braden's car in 2011. The two bonded over their love for cars — specifically 196