Mr. James P. McGilley, Jr., 85, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease, at his home on Sunday, July 21, 2013, with his wife by his side. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 25th, 10:00 a.m., at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11822 Holmes, Kansas City, MO, with burial following in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 24th, at McGilley State Line Chapel, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., where the Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to The National Parkinson Foundation, 8900 State Line Road, #320, Leawood, KS, 66206.Mr. McGilley was born October 25, 1927, and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the second of four children of James and Marguerite McGilley. He attended St. Francis Grammar School, and graduated from Rockhurst High School in 1944. He briefly attended the University of Missouri on a Varsity football scholarship offered by the legendary coach, Don Faurot, prior to enlisting in the U. S. Coast Guard. He served aboard the USS LST 21 during WWII. Upon discharge, he attended Rockhurst College, and graduated from the K. C. College of Mortuary Science in 1949. Mr. McGilley’s distinguished career as a funeral director started in high school, working part-time for his father, the late James P. McGilley, Sr. He joined the business full time in 1946, and became president of the firm in 1973 after his father’s death. Mr. McGilley’s passion for his profession and compassion for the families he served were highly regarded within the funeral industry and the Kansas City community. He served as President of the Missouri State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers for many years and was instrumental in creating many industry practice standards. Mr. McGilley was a member of: Sigma Chi Fraternity, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Native Sons of K.C., American Legion Post #340, the Missouri University Booster Club, Blue Hills Country Club, the U.S. Golf Association, and K.C. Rotary Club #13. He was a former Board Member of both the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and Empire State Bank.
Mr. McGilley was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James P. McGilley, Sr., his two sisters, Sr. Mary Janet McGilley and Teresa Redlingshafer, and his brother, John McGilley, and grandson, Matthew McGilley. Survivors include his wife, Brid McGilley, and his five children, James P. McGilley, III of Leawood, KS., Mark McGilley of Leawood, KS., and his wife, Kathy, Bridget McGilley of Kansas City, MO., Meg McGilley of Carlsbad, CA., and Beth Hartman McGilley of Wichita, KS., and her husband, Keck Hartman, 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife’s five sons, Fintan Molloy and his wife Ann, Stephen Molloy and his wife Carolyn, Ronan Molloy and his wife Sharon, Ciaran Molloy and his wife Amy, Domhnall Molloy, and his wife Deana, and 7 grandchildren, all of Kansas City, MO. The family would also like to acknowledge the exceptional caregivers who attended to Mr. McGilley in his later years, especially Barbara Slaughter and Matthew Browning, whose conscientious efforts extended and enriched his life, and provided his wife, Brid, with invaluable support. In addition, the family would like to thank Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for their assistance.
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