James "Jim" Ray Hart

 James (Jim) Ray Hart, 89-1/2, born September 12, 1934, LaGrange, Indiana - deceased March 23, 2024, 9 AM ET, died at his home on the far East side of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Services: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 10 AM Family time; 11 AM -1 PM ET Public gathering; 1 PM ET Celebration of life service; and around 2 PM Private Burial. 

Jim's remains will be taken to the crematorium for direct cremation and then buried nearby the grave of his daughter Annita Gay Hart and with his wife of thirty-one years Sally Lee Dragoo Hart at Flanner Buchanan Washington Park, (Section K, Lot 422, Grave 10 on Avenue Psalm Street at marker Chandler.) 10722 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Jim is survived by five generations of family members and many very special friends. 

Siblings: Jack Lewis (& Etheldra) Hart of Kewadin, MI; Jerry Joshua (& Sarah Elizabeth) Hart of Middlebury, IN; Janis Geneva Hart Mattingly of Dallas, TX; Alice May Brabandt Peters of Angola, IN. 

Sister-In-Law: Debra Jo Gloy Hart of White Pigeon, MI; Sister-In-Law and Brother-In-Law: Susan Kay Dragoo and Dave Bardes of Indianapolis, IN. 

Jim's (& Vera Ann McNeely-Hart-LaRosa) Children: Cevven Ray  (& Dee Ann) Hart of Muncie, IN; Lezlie Kay Hart of Spartanburg,  SC (& Jeffrey James Harlan) of Indianapolis, IN. 

Sally's Children: Andrew James Richter (& Pam Marroff) of Schererville, IN; Randall Allen  (& Jennifer) Richter of Indianapolis, IN; Jonathon Joseph (& Lisa) Richter of Brazil, IN.

Grandchildren: Mariah Hart Daley (& Jayme Wooster) of Colorado Springs, CO; Travis Nathaniel (& Katie) Lawless of Indianapolis, IN. 

Great-grandchild: Eryn Colleen Fiona Daley of Indianapolis, IN.

Jim was preceded in death by his Father: Norris James Joshua Hart (5/13/1910-8/30/1944). Daughter: Annita Gay Hart (8/29/1962-8/31/1962). Mother: Geneva Pauline Myers Hart Brabandt (10/28/1912-11/27/1982). Sister: Janet Ruth Hart-Harness (8/18/1940-11/5/2005). Wife: Sally Lee Dragoo Hart (1/24/1946-12/18/2017). Brother: Jean Howard Hart (5/12/1938-2/26/2021). Brother-In-Laws: Laramie Eugene Harness (1/28/1938-5/3/2015) and Richard Lee Mattingly (6/9/1941-6/20/2021).

Followed in death by his first wife Vera Ann McNeely-Hart-LaRosa (11/14/1940-3/29/2024)

Summary of life. Jim was a pre-teen when his Father died in war. Jim graduated from High School at the Indiana School for the Blind, Indianapolis Indiana in 1956. Graduated Indiana University Bloomington Indiana in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts  degree in clinical psychology. Continued his higher education at Butler University, Indianapolis Indiana.

Jim worked on the assembly line at RCA and as a computer programmer for Marion County and the City of Indianapolis Indiana. 

Jim's hobbies and interests included: listening to Indiana college sports (football and basketball). Indiana Hoosiers basketball and Cubs baseball were his favorites! Jim enjoyed competing in wrestling while in High School. As an adult Jim enjoyed participating in cross country skiing and Chess tournaments. 

Jim appreciated the arts, Indiana history, culture,  geography, genealogy,  linguistics, library science... and encouraged others to appreciate them too. 

Jim enjoyed eating out with family and friends, especially gourmet cuisine and at locally family owned restaurants. 

Jim enjoyed listening to an eclectic collection of music;  reading books from all genres.  

Jim, rest in peace. You are forever in our hearts. Thank you for the life we shared. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity below:
Pilot Guide Dog School, Columbus, IN: Give the Gift of Independence (givebutter.com)
Indiana Blind Children's Foundation: Donate to the IBCF (indianabcf.org)
(region including Indiana for) Education Centers for Deaf-Blind Youth