James "Jim" McCorcle

1928 - 2011

Long-time Juneau resident, James "Jim" McCorcle passed away at home, surrounded by family and friends on April 19, 2011, following a brief struggle with cancer. He was born April 21, 1928, the eighth of 11 children, to Lydia and H.F. McCorcle in Colorado City, Texas. He graduated from Colorado City High School in 1945 and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1946. He served our country for 2 years and was honorably discharged in December 1948. He attended SMU for a short time and then transferred to the University of Colorado where he graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1953.

He moved to Juneau in 1954 to work for Harry Race Druggist. Jim met his wife, Norma Jean, in 1956 at a barbeque at the AJ Mine boardinghouse, and they were married in October 1957. They enjoyed impromptu picnics with family, dinners and playing cards with their friends, boating, and travelling.

In 1964 Jim purchased an ownership share in Harry Race Druggist and later acquired the business outright. In 1969 he bought Wortman's Drug in Sitka, securing the transaction with a handshake. Jim sold the Sitka operation in 1974 and his Juneau store, then known as McCorcle Pharmacy, in 1986 to Juneau Drug where he worked until he retired in 1994. Jim served on the Alaska State Board of Pharmacy for eight years and received the Bowl of Hygeia, a prestigious award for service to the pharmacy profession, from the Alaska Pharmacists Association in 1988. He was well-known around Juneau for his friendly smile and desire to help the community. Jim was a Charter Member of Gastineau Rotary Club and served with the club for 25 years. He was also a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church and held the offices of President, Elder and Trustee. The congregation created a position for him entitled Elder Emeritus for his dedication and service to Faith Lutheran.
Jim's co-workers at Juneau Drug honored him with a trip to Ireland to kick off his retirement. He and Norma Jean visited many countries since that first trip, including Russia, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Guatemala, Tahiti and Egypt. He loved volunteering for RSVP, spending his time chatting, running errands, and playing cards with less mobile fellow retirees. He loved puttering around in his gardens and feeding the birds. His grandchildren were quite impressed that he could feed the Stellar Jays from his hand. He appreciated the arts in all forms, enjoying many of the concerts and performances that Juneau had to offer, and won awards for his photographic pieces. He also enjoyed creating oil paintings and ceramic tiles with pictures of things he knew his family would enjoy.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Norma Jean and his three children: Patricia Neptune, her husband, Andre', and their children, Jacques and Hayley; Timothy McCorcle; and Kerrie Petch, her husband, Bryan, and their children, Raegan and McKenzie.

One of his neighbors commented about Jim, "What a fine man he was: gentle, patient, kind, and strong." We will miss you, Dad, and will be thinking of you when we watch the Mariners and the Buffs!

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church. For information about the service, call (907) 586-2493.

Memorial contributions in his name can be made to Hospice and Home Care of Juneau or to the charity of your choice.