James Mcwilliams

James Martin McWilliams was born January 12, 1934, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Dewey and Helen Toft McWilliams. He attended Westminster University and Washington University and had a long career as a computer analyst and senior systems specialist for McDonnell Douglas. He married Doris Griffin in October of 1960 and they were blessed with three children—Bradley, Michael, and Sheryl—and many wonderful memories together before Doris passed away in 2007. In 2009 Jim married Aroma McGoveran Kemp, and they too were blessed with many wonderful years together.

Jim was a witty, kind, and generous man who loved to laugh and loved to give to those around him. As his kids were growing up he spent many days coaching or volunteering on the baseball or softball field or at the hockey rink, or taking his family to the lake or camping. He also served as a Scout leader, having been a Scout, and even a Sea Scout, himself as a boy. He loved fishing, hunting, RC planes, live music, traveling, and spending time with the people he loved, most of all his family and his church family. He was baptized and his faith was very important to him. He attended the Clever First Assembly of God, served on the Clever City Council for a number of years, and volunteered at the food pantry, and he enjoyed his “retirement” job at the 166 Auto Auction.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Doris; a grandson, Andrew McWilliams; and a brother-in-law, Robert Hoffman.

He is survived by his wife, Aroma Kemp McWilliams of the home in Clever; son Bradley McWilliams and wife, Kathy, of Springfield, Missouri; son Michael McWilliams of Imperial, Missouri; daughter Sheryl Krieger and husband, Steve, of Kirkwood, Missouri; stepson Brian Kemp of Springfield, Missouri; stepdaughter Carla Counsil of Clever, Missouri; 12 grandchildren (Brian, Jonathan, and Ashley McWilliams; Cagney Conway (Cory) and Kevin McWilliams; Erickson, Emily, and Mallory Krieger; Timothy Kemp; Solomon (Skylar), Charlie, and Abby Counsil); 4 great-grandchildren (Kyra and Kaleigh Conway; Lilly and Carter McWilliams); his sister, Deborah Hoffman, of Santa Barbara, California; and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 5:30–7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 28, at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut, Springfield, Missouri. Services will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10301 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, Missouri, on Thursday, August 31; there will be a visitation at noon, service at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Bruce Baker officiating, and burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to The Salvation Army.