JAMES LEWIS SCHOOLEY M.D.

James Lewis Schooley, MD, age 89, passed away in the afternoon of August 12, 2014. He was the son of Bessie and William Schooley. Along with his two sisters and one brother, he grew up in Clipper Gap, near Auburn, CA. After graduating from high school he moved to Loma Linda CA. There he attended college and medical school. January 3, 1949, he received the Degree of Doctor of Medicine from Loma Linda University.

While a student at Loma Linda, Jim met the love of his life, Miriam (Mim) Geach. They were wed July 1, 1945. During their almost sixty-five year marriage they had one daughter and three sons.

After graduation from medical school, Jim served his country, in the U.S. Air Force. He spent two years stationed in London working as a pathologist. From London, Mim and Jim took the opportunity to travel to many places in Europe.

After leaving the Air Force, Jim returned to southern California, to do a residency in OB/GYN. He also became Board Certified by the American Board of Pathology in April 1956. Before he had finished his residency a friend recruited him to come to Fresno to finish his studies.

Jim had always said that he would never live in Fresno. All he knew about Fresno was what he had experienced driving through it. The winters were foggy and the summers were hot. His friend was persuasive. They agreed to move to Fresno for a year and stayed a lifetime.

After finishing his residency, Dr. Schooley, decided to open a practice in Fresno. He also opened Valley Cytology Center to process and read pap smears. This was new technology. He taught the local medical doctors why and how to do pap smears. He then collected, prepared, and read them. Mim typed the reports.

On December 31, 1969, Jim became a fellow of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

He continued delivering babies, performing GYN surgery and reading pap smears for several decades. He loved being a physician and missed it after he retired.

He was very active in his SDA church, both in Fresno and Oakhurst. He had a lovely tenor voice and sang solos and as a member of the choir.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Mim; son, William Schooley; parents, Bessie and William Schooley; sisters, Twila Howard and Leslie Rebok.

Jim is survived by his brother, Paul Schooley; children, Joy Adams, James Schooley, Jr. and Jerry Schooley.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Jim's Life will be held on October 9, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. at Fresno Central SDA Church, 2980 E Yale Ave, Fresno CA.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Hinds Hospice, 2490 W Shaw Ave, #100A, Fresno CA 93711.