Carlton James “Jim” Hugg

June 1, 1942 – November 20, 2025

Carlton James “Jim” Hugg passed away Nov. 20, 2025 following a valiant year-long battle with cancer and more than eight decades of extraordinary life filled with love, beauty, adventure, success, challenges, dedication, reinvention, and generosity. He was 83.

Born June 1, 1942 in Oregon City to Ruth and Oscar Hogg, Jim (who changed the spelling of his last name as an adult)  was an outdoorsy and adventurous boy and young man who loved the Oregon wilderness and played varsity football at his alma mater Oregon City High School, manning the starting center position at only 150 pounds. Not your typical jock, Jim was also an avid reader, despite his parents telling him that all that reading would “rot his brain!”

After graduating from high school in 1960, Jim served in the United States Coast Guard, both active duty and reserves. He attended Lewis and Clark College in the late 1960s, where he met  Elizabeth Ann “Betsy” Arthurs, his future wife and mother of his beloved daughter.

As a young man, Jim became a dedicated body builder and even briefly considered joining legendary Portland Wrestling under the persona of the “The Mad German.”

Jim became a licensed interior designer, and he and his brother partnered to open Hogg Brothers Furniture stores in Salem and Corvallis, following in the footsteps of their dad and uncles, who operated the original store in Oregon City. In the early 1970s, Jim reconnected with Betsy and they married soon after. Their union produced the joy of their lives, their daughter Nicole.

In the mid ‘80s, after facing some difficult times, Jim completely flipped the script. He returned to school and completed a Master’s in Counseling from Western Oregon University and later went to work for the Oregon State Hospital in the forensic department. He also opened a private counseling practice specializing in addiction, became an ordained minister and was an avid student of many religions.

A longtime member of the Chemeketans, an organization founded in 1928 united in a common interest in outdoor activities, Jim loved hiking, camping, skiing and traveling to state and national parks in the western United States and Canada. Inspired by nature, he dabbled in sketch art throughout his life. Yoga and meditation were daily practices which he credited as significant in his recovery and maintaining nearly 40 years of sobriety.

Jim had a special love for the Oregon wilderness – a passion he passed on to his daughter and granddaughters – and, after his retirement, he kept busy hiking, camping and cross-country skiing into his 80s. Retirement also brought the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of exploring Alaska. But, for Jim, nothing compared to his own Oregon. His favorite places in the world were Paulina Lake, where his family had a cabin when he was growing up, the Central Oregon Desert, Metolius River and Hoodoo Ski Area.

His two granddaughters brought light and joy to Jim’s later years. He took them camping every summer, attended plays, soccer games, school programs and birthday parties and never missed an opportunity to spend time with them and spoil them unendingly. He took them on frequent trips to the Salem Public Library – a place he treasured – and taught them his habit of stopping in at every bookstore he passed.

Along with his many friends, the squirrels and birds near Jim’s condo will surely miss him and his daily custom of making sure they were well fed. He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity; his love of nature, animals and the planet; his dry, dark sense of humor; and, above all, his utter devotion to his daughter and granddaughters.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Nicole Caputo, her husband Andres and granddaughters Gabriella and Romana of Portland; his niece Melinda Voy; nephew Steve Hogg; and numerous grandnieces, grandnephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Oscar Hogg; his brother Jack; and former wife Betsy.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Willamette Heritage Center -The Dye House, 1313 Mill Street S.E., Salem. Silent meditation will be held from 1-1:30 p.m. and the service will begin at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow. If you wish to honor Jim’s memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, or the Salem Public Library Foundation.