Jim McCord, the son of Charles Calvin McCord and Katherine Lucille (Gott) McCord, was born on May 26, 1940 in Springfield, Missouri and passed away after an extended illness, on October 14, 2011 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. Raised in north Springfield, Jim attended public school at Bowerman, Reed and Central High. In school Jim distinguished himself for brightness and non-conformity. He simply walked to the beat of a different drum. He even described himself as "a contrary" because he frequently saw things from a different perspective than most people. Jim held his family, school friends, football and marine buddies, academic and work associates and a host of dear friends in high regard. Perhaps, he has finally moved beyond the confinements of convention, transcending the incarcerations of the ordinary, in the reach for his highest inspirations and aspirations.
James McCord was preceded in death by his father and mother and by other dear family and friends. He is survived by a sister, Patricia McDonald Preston of Sonoma, California; by a nephew and niece, Brooks McDonald of San Francisco, California and Kelly Stratman of Oakland, California; and by cousins, Charles McCord, Charles Gott, Janie Gott Corn and Lee Gott, all of Springfield, Missouri.
Visitation will be Tuesday evening 6 -8:00 p.m., and funeral at 11 a.m., Wednesday in Klingner-Cope Funeral Home at Midtown, 1635 N. Benton, with Dr. James R. Kellett officiating. The internment will follow in Maple Park Cemetery.