James ‘Jim’ McCormick, 82, of Neosho, entered into rest on Oct. 3, 2017 at Medicalodge in Neosho, MO, following a lengthy illness. Jim was born Aug. 2, 1935 in Blair, NE, the son of Clarence and Leota McCormick.
He graduated from Blair High School in 1952 and attended college at Dana College for one year. Jim was a member of the Blair United Methodist Church. He worked for Safeway in Council Bluffs, Iowa and Kelly Ryan in Blair. He married Lodena Wrich in 1954 at Blair and later divorced. In 1956, Jim moved to Denver, CO, where he worked as a tile layer before going to the Air Force in 1957, serving until 1959.
He was stationed at Cheyenne, WY and Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha in communications. Jim returned to Denver in 1961 and began working for Pepsi Cola as a route salesman and at Kroger Grocers as a service driver. In 1991, Jim relocated to Neosho, MO. Jim loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and all sports, especially football and the Denver Bronco’s as a season ticket holder for over 50 years.
Jim married Charleen Sawyer in 1972 at Denver, CO and she survives. Additional survivors include two daughters, LaNae Frew and husband, Tom of White Hills, AZ and Lonna Kelly of Boise, ID; stepson, Douglas Sawyer and wife, Sandy of Broken Arrow, OK; stepdaughter, Cathy Sawyer of Neosho; two sisters, Patricia Rand and husband, Bob of Missouri Valley, IA and Sara Jo McCormick of Denver; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren, with one great grandchild due to arrive in November and special family friends, Grant and Shelley Krummel and Bob and Nancy King. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Michael McCormick and son in law, Tim Kelly. Jim requested to be cremated and a memorial service was held on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 at 10 am at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, Chaplain Danny Mullins and Bud Reed officiated.
The family will receive friends following the memorial service until 11:30 am. Family graveside services will be held at a later date at the Blair Cemetery, Blair, NE. Memorial contributions in honor of Jim may be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of the donors’ choice, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, MO 64850. www.clarkfuneralhomes.com
