James Everett Jameson M.D.

1921 - 2016

James Everett Jameson, M.D.

James Everett Jameson, age 95, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at the Manor at Elfindale, Springfield, MO.

Born in Springfield, Missouri, September 29, 1921, to Jesse E. and Effie L. (McVay) Jameson. Attended Springfield public schools, Rountree and McDaniel elementary, Jarrett Jr. High, and graduated from Senior High in 1939. He entered Drury College the same year as a pre-medical student, affiliated with the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and SPH. In 1940 he enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training program at Drury and earned a private pilots certificate.

With the beginning of WWII, he entered the Army Air Corp in August, 1942, was trained as a meteorologist, receiving the non-commissioned rank of Staff/Sergeant. He served in the Central and Western Pacific areas, including Hawaii, Tarawa, Kwajalein, and Saipan for a period of 30 months, returning home in August 1945 just as the war ended.

Upon his discharge from the Air Corp, he completed pre-medical study at Washington University, and was accepted to the University of Missouri Medical School. After completing the two years offered there, he transferred to the University of Tennessee in Memphis and received an M.D. degree in June, 1950. That summer he began his internship at the Kansas City General Hospital, Kansas City, MO.

The onset of the Korean War the same year produced another interruption in future plans, and this time he served two years in the USAF as a medical officer, being deployed in Japan, Korea, and Okinawa, with the rank of Captain. For most of this period he was assigned to duty assisting in orthopedic surgery, which gave incentive to choose this specialty for his career.

After discharge from the Air Force in July, 1953, he accepted an appointment as a resident in orthopedic surgery with the Dickson and Dively Clinic in Kansas City, MO and while there, met and married Jeannine Lachmund, a registered nurse from Springfield, who at that time was working on the orthopedic service at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.

In January, 1958, the couple moved back to Springfield where Jim began practice with Drs. William H. Snead and Erin M. Dillard, an association which continued until his retirement in January of 1986. Jeannine developed pancreatic cancer and died in October 1987.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Virginia Oswald.

In 1991, he married Donna Wallace Crosby of Springfield and continued to live here. They enjoyed travel, both domestic and foreign, and being patrons of the performing arts.

His hobbies had been photography and music, in which he was both skilled and knowledgeable. During his lifetime, he amassed an extensive collection of recorded jazz, particularly of the Swing Era, which he generously donated to the MSU music library, as well as numerous books and DVDs on Jazz history. He was also fond of choral music and as a student sang in elementary and high school glee clubs, church choir, and at Drury College in the A cappella Choir.

Jim became a Christian at the age of 9. He is of the Baptist faith, and has been a member of the Springfield First Baptist Church for more than 70 years.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; her children: daughter Kerry Wilson (Larry); son Chris Crosby; daughter Kim Westenberg (Robert); and Craig Crosby (Heather); and 18 grandchildren who loved him. Also left to mourn his passing are: niece Nancy J. Satterwhite and husband James of Madison, CT; cousin Dr. C. Courtney Whitlock and wife Kay of Springfield; cousin Joe P. Jameson, Jr. and wife Tanya of La Grange, TX; and Barbara Gillan, and husband Tom, of Denton, MD. The family wishes to thank the loving and capable staff of the Manor at Elfindale.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 10am at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home (1947 E Seminole, Springfield, MO) with Pastor Michael Overton of First Baptist Church officiating. Military burial will follow at Springfield National Cemetery (1702 E. Seminole St., Springfield, MO).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in James' name through Randy Hamm of the MSU Jazz Studies Program, or First Baptist Church, Springfield, MO.