James Lee Mack was born to Steve Mack and Pansy Mae Lea Mack at Fordland, MO, on March 4, 1924. Growing up on the family farm during the Great Depression gave Jim a strong work ethic and a desire to succeed. He graduated from Fordland High School in 1942, where, in addition to academics, he excelled as a member of the Fordland High School basketball team. After a short stint in the Civilian Conservation Corps, he enlisted in the Merchant Marines with his brother, Dean, where he served in the Philippines as an Engineer. In 1947, after returning home, he became engaged to Betty Joan Smith, the love of his life, and they were married on December 20, 1947. They lived in Fordland until 1951 where Jim worked for the road department.
After a short stay in CA, they moved to Wichita, KS in 1952 to work for Boeing Aircraft. In 1959 they adopted their first child, Gavin, before moving back to the Ozarks and settling for life in Springfield. He was working as a tool and die maker for Royal-McBee Typewriter Company when their second child, Joyce, came to them in 1961. Jim worked for Royal-McBee for 10 years, rising to the position of Maintenance Foreman. Family being very important to him, he and Joan decided to stay in Springfield when the plant closed in 1969. He became a Farmer’s Insurance Agent and soon was one of the top agents in the Springfield area. While working for Farmers Insurance Group, Jim received several awards for outstanding performance and was consistently invited to the company’s national conference for top agents. He retired in 1989 after 20 years of service to Farmer’s.
Jim, though a devoted family man, never lost his love for the farm. He always loved visiting his parents and helping around the farm, spending many Saturday afternoons with his Dad fixing fence or mowing hay. After retirement, he spent many hours working on the old farmhouse, the seemingly endless miles of fence, or keeping the weeds at bay in the fields. His favorite activity was driving the tractor, always whistling or singing.
Jim’s faith was also very important to him. He was a long-time member of South National (now East Sunshine) Church of Christ where he served for many years as a Deacon. Until his health started to fail in recent years, he seldom missed Sunday morning worship.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Eugene, Donnie and Dean Mack, and his beloved wife, Joan, who passed away July 7, 2011, preceded him in death. He is survived by two sisters Shirley Scott of Springfield and Kay Spiva of Walnut Grove; his son, James Gavin Mack and wife, Mary of Carlsbad, NM; his daughter, Joyce Carol Mack Fenner and husband, Gary, of Ormond Beach, FL; grandsons, Jordan Lea Estes, Dustin James Estes and wife, Catherine; Nicholas James Stucky-Mack, and Jakob Rickert Fenner; great-grandchildren Rylee Catherine, James Newell and the yet-to-arrive Brooklyn Grace Estes; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10 am Thursday, August 25, 2011 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East with burial following in Fordland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 – 8 pm today at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Fair Haven Children’s Home or St. John’s Hospice.