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James McComb Obituary
Jim was born in Phoenix, Arizona on October 31, 1948 and passed away on March 9, 2013, at the age of 64. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and his M.D. degree from Vanderbilt University of Medicine. His specialty training was completed at the University of Arizona Medical Center after which he opened his Rheumatology practice in Mesa. Dr. McComb truly enjoyed helping others through medicine for 30 years before retiring in 2010. Jim spent much of his retirement exploring the wilderness and experiencing all the activities it provided. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, JoAnne, his children, Andy and Erin, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carla and Tom Clardy, and nephews, Chris and Tim Mehrhof. Jim was loved deeply by his family and many friends, and will be forever in our hearts and thoughts. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2745 North 32nd Street, Mesa, Arizona 85213. A reception will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Whitewater at www.americanwhitewater.org. Meldrum Mortuary handled the arrangements.
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Memories and Condolences
for James McComb
Leroy Griffing
March 9, 2019
It has been 6 years...but still fresh in my mind are the perspectives on life you shared as we sat on the ski lifts, your humor, your down to earth wisdom including endless uses of duct tape, and your caring and professionalism as an old school rheumatologist. They don't make them that way any more. The annual snowboard "Run for Jim" at Snowmass generates such fond memories, and because of you brightens and renews every year our spirits like no one else.
Sally McCormac
April 4, 2013
Like so many others I knew Dr McComb as he was my rheumatologist for 12 years until he retired. I am a younger patient and have always been very active. Dr McComb was able to improve my arthritis to allow me to live the life I wanted. We talked about Hawaii often as I live there part of the year. In reading the postings, I only wish I could have gone on one of his adventures. Dr McComb was a wonderful doctor and caring person. I am blessed to have known him and know he is in heaven. My condolences to the family; I just learned of his passing today through my new rheumatologist Dr Smith. God Bless you all
Jill Blaha
March 26, 2013
To the McComb Family - Dr. McComb was my mother's rheumatologist for 30 years. He was a wonderful doctor and my mother always knew she was in the best care. I remember he always made her laugh during her appointments. My mother recently passed away on 2/28/13 but I know she is laughing with him again. Dr. McComb was a wonderful man and he will be missed by many. My deepest sympathies go out to your family.
Cindy Murphy
March 22, 2013
I just found out today Dr. McComb had passed away. He was my doctor for many years. Words cannot describe the great doctor and man he was. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I will always remember how much he loved practicing medicine and it reflected in the way he treated his patients. Great example of how doctors should be with their patients. I will miss him. God watch over his family.
Jeannine Swanson
March 19, 2013
Dr McComb took me in when another Rheumatologist told me he couldn't do much more for me Well Dr McComb did & always found a way to bring me around! I always said he saved my life twice--he diagnosed my septic knee & sent me to the hospital immediately and met me at his office on a Saturday due to my back complaints & told me I had gall bladder problems & sure enough I did & Lots of stones! We need more caring doctors like he was. My heart goes out to his family who barely had time with him in his retirement years! May peace & love be with them now.
I just found out about this today and unfortunately missed his celebration of life. I am so sorry about that!
March 18, 2013
Jim,
Fishing will never be the same. You will be always in my heart. Ron Sampson
Maria Trampe
March 16, 2013
Jim will be missed. Always a treat to have him stop by on his trips to Idaho. Our love and sympathy to JoAnne and family. Maria and Steve
Jason Griffing
March 16, 2013
Some of my earliest and fondest snowboarding memories involve being out on the hill with Jim. We always had such an amazing time. The world has lost a truly vibrant and amazing man. My deepest sympathies.
March 16, 2013
Tyler and I send our heartfelt sympathy to JoAnne, Andy, Erin and all who are touched by the loss of Jim. We were so very lucky to have spent some time on the river with Jim sharing in his love of exploration and adventure.
Lisa Gelczis and Tyler Williams
The Matheson Family
March 16, 2013
We are truly sorry for your families loss. May peace be with all of you during these difficult times. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jeanne Wolfe
March 16, 2013
We will miss this wonderful man so much. Our prayers are with you and your family
Snowmas, Co
Leroy Griffing
March 15, 2013
Jim - You will be missed!! But I will forever have great memories of a rheumatology colleague I admired and respected greatly and of a true and wonderful friend with whom there many great times enjoying the mountain. I am thankful to have known you and Jodi.
Snowmass, Co
Leroy Griffing
March 15, 2013
Marion & Peggy Freel
March 15, 2013
Deepest sympathy to the family. He touched many, many lives and will be missed. He lived life through his aches and pains and helped others live through their aches and pains as comfortable as he could make them (us).
Tim Kipp
March 15, 2013
Dr. Jim McComb, a man's man! Thank you for sharing your medical knowledge and expertise to treat my arthritis many years ago. We became good friends as we shared great times with our young families camping on the beach in Mexico. You truly blessed me on many whitetail hunts in southern AZ. Your real gift to others was your concern and graciousness to everyone. One day I brought a sick student of mine (he was blind and very poor) to your office. You dropped everything and treated him and even followed up checking on him.
Thank you for sharing you life with us. The world is the loser, but heaven has a winner. Our hearts are heavy for you JoAnne, Andy, and Erin.
The Tim Kipp Family
Susi and Leroy Griffing
March 15, 2013
To you Jodi, and to your family, our deepest sympathy. Jim will be missed by so many. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Bob Warner
March 15, 2013
The quality of my life improved from the day I became a patient of Dr. McComb. I always enjoyed talking with him during appointments - very warm, intelligent, amusing. I'm so sorry to learn of his passing. His family and friends are in my prayers.
March 15, 2013
Sorry for your loss. Wish I could be there Sat. But we are on spring break. You are in our prays. Jim was a great person! He will be missed! Louise Bonas and family
March 15, 2013
I have a vision of Pete, Doc, and Jim hunting for wild turkey and getting ready to find the perfect Christmas tree to bring home for the holidays!
JoAnne, Erin and Andy, our deepest sympathy. Love, Shirley, Jack and Bob
Ginger Treptow
March 15, 2013
Was so shocked to hear of the passing of Dr. James McComb. I was a patient of his for 20 years and feel I am here today because of his excellent care.
I feel peace in having known him and know he is with God and at rest. I wish to express my Sympathy to his beautiful family. May he Rest in Peace.
Craig Carpenter
March 14, 2013
I enjoyed the company of Jim very much, his personality,wisdom and stories from his life in the outdoors. I was touched by his concern for people and the obstacles in life they had to overcome. Jim had a very realistic and pragmatic approach to life that was refreshing and inspiring. Thank you, Jim, for your contribution to my life
Linda Samson
March 14, 2013
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Jim. He was a wonderful person. Full of integrity and caring not to mention his "unusual" sense of humor. He recently attended my mother's funeral services on March 4th and I was so glad to see him. He was the ONLY doctor I could ever get my mother to go see. He was a classmate at Cortez High School - he graduated with my brother - and I have many fond memories of trips to the lake with his dad's boat. He let the lower classmates tag along. He was a GREAT man and he will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with JoAnn and the entire family. Such a loss. We love you, Jim.
Philip Moon
March 14, 2013
I vividly remember when I met Jim back in 1979.
Since Jim was new to the medical practice where my dad worked, my dad invited Jim and JoAnne over to our house for dinner.
As a lanky 14 year-old kid, I was blown away by all of Jim's stories of outdoor adventure.
But then the real adventure began for me because, over the next 5 years, Jim let me be a co-adventurer with him as we fished, boated, canoed, rafted, and kayaked almost everywhere in Arizona. You name it, we did it, often times doing the impossible!
But with Jim, the impossible was the ordinary. Every trip with him was supreme adventure.
But now as I look back on all those years that we spent together, I realize that the adventure that we shared, as great as it was, is not Jim's lasting legacy with me. For me, Jim's lasting legacy was his tireless pouring of his time, knowledge, and love into my life. Jim was like a second dad to me, and I am a better person for it.
I have so many good memories of all the times that we spent together, and now I take solace in those memories because I know that in my mind Jim will live forever.
Jim forever changed my life, and I am so blessed to have been Jim's friend.
Roberta Laird
March 14, 2013
Dr. McComb you spoiled me as a patient (it helps when your sister-in-law is his nurse)and made my arthritis disappear, at least in my mind. You were a big part of our family tree and you will be missed. I will pray for your family that they find peace in their hearts and remember a great man of medicine.
Jay & Judy Grant
March 14, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Andy and Jim, San Juan River, July 1987
March 14, 2013
Jim, myself, his dad, and Andy at Bluff, Utah, June 30, 1987
Philip Moon
March 14, 2013
Steve & Patricia Murphy
March 14, 2013
Steve and I had the pleasure of meeting “Doc” through my sister Lana and her husband Dan. Although we did not know him personally, Lana, Dan and their family thought the world of him and his name would come up in many of our conversations. They would share stories about their hunting, fishing, and especially the houseboat trips that your families all went on together.
My mom, Elinor had the pleasure of spending time with you and Doc on her recent visit and she has told me more than once about going to dinner and Doc making her laugh. Lana and Dan have been blessed with beautiful memories to cherish and a friendship that will continue with you and your children. Reach out to them during this healing process and know how much he was loved and admired.
Keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Gene and Mary Burdick
March 14, 2013
Jim McComb! Bigger than Life! You and the many adventures you took us on will live forever in our spiritual lives. Thank you Jim for everything you did - our lives are fuller because of your generosity and spirit! Gene and Mary Burdick
Carol Savoie
March 14, 2013
Jim, you were one of a kind. You are already missed by so very many people. What a difference you made in my life, I will remember you forever. Blessed be.
Linda Hopkins
March 14, 2013
JoAnne Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Linda & Steve Hopkins
Charlie and Cory Coker
March 14, 2013
You'll be missed and in our hearts forever.
March 14, 2013
Erin and family - you are all in our thoughts and prayers. Dacia @ B.C. Automotive
Nancy Murbach
March 14, 2013
Your light will burn brightly in our hearts forever.
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