For nearly 40 years, James Gunn had a store on Capitol Hill. 15th Ave E’s Tilden finally closed in 2010 after being part of the community for decades. Gunn’s daughter reached out to CHS this week with a note about her father and an appeal for help. While many who passed by might remember the store only for the “difficult for children” sign that hung on the door, others in the community surely knew Jim. Here is the note from his daughter and more about an opportunity to help.

Jim Gunn

My father, Jim Gunn, who adored my mother & loved her unconditionally, took care of my mother, Gloria Gunn, at home,for 10 years, because she was bedridden,{eating out of a tube in her stomach}, ran their gift store called Tilden, in Seattle, & took care of their large German Shepherd dog until she passed away 2 years ago. It cost him everything and he gladly gave it! Gloria & Jim were very loved in the community on Capitol Hill, in Seattle.

Now Jim needs your help. My father is now in an assisted living community on an emergency basis, called respite care. I have used up all available funds to keep him there.

Glory Kurfurst

Kurfurst said she is working to help her father sell his house to let him stay at the facility but is hopeful that some in the community who knew Jim or shopped at Tilden might want to step forward to help the family through this period. “Please help me fulfill his wishes,” she writes.

A James Gunn fund has been set up at US Bank — Kurfurst asks that anybody who wants to help to contact the bank at (206) 344-3690 to donate to the fund.