MCGEEHAN, James "Jimmy" R.

James “Jimmy” R. McGeehan passed away April 22 in the arms of his beloved wife and close family. He was born in Leadville on Dec. 1, 1930, to William Henry McGeehan and Angelina Formalo, the fifth of eight children: Annie Vietti, Joseph (Delores) McGeehan, Viola Nelson, Louise Barta, Jim (Geraldine) McGeehan, Larry (Sandra) McGeehan, Leo (Claudia) McGeehan and Angelina (Harry) McGeehan. McGeehan lived at 417 E. 7th St. and went to Saint Mary’s school for eight years. Although he never went to town much, he played at home in the alleys and up in the hills. He used to help his dad sort ore at the mine dumps, then stack it on pallets, and later he would have it hauled to the smelter. He also had a paper route before school. McGeehan was an alter boy at Annunciation Church and never missed a Mass. He went to Leadville High School from ninth until the 11th grade. In the ninth grade he met Jeri Webster, who was there for only a quarter. She was from Colorado Springs. McGeehan said he would hang around at the Websters for quite a while after that, just to see her. She left, and he next saw her four years later. McGeehan enlisted in the service and left after 11th grade. He enlisted in Colorado Springs and then shipped out to Fort Ord. He went to Japan with the Fifth Air Force in 1948 and spent three years in Nagoya, Japan, during the Korean War. He made it home in 1952 and went to work at Climax on the maintenance crew in the electrical unit. Later he took care of all company housing. One evening he took his sister Louise out to the Silver Dollar Saloon where he saw Jeri Webster’s stepsister, Mildred Webster, who told him that Jeri was in town at her mother’s. He called her, and the two went back to the Silver Dollar. Although she returned to Colorado Springs, McGeehan visited her there many times. The two married Jan. 11, at Annunciation Church. They first lived in the Powell apartment on 6th street and then the McCann house on West 7th Street and finally the Frankovich apartments on Elm. The couple then moved to Salt Lake City with their young children. In 1961 McGeehan became a master electrician and purchased a home in Taylorsville, Utah. Later they moved to St. George where McGeehan was an usher and an alter server at the St. George Catholic Church. He was 53-year Elk and also a 4th- Degree Knights of Columbus Honor Guard. He was Knight of the Year in 2002-2003. In 2006, he was appointed Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Also in 2006, he received the Award of Merit for Faithful and Exceptional Services to the 4th-Degree of the Knights of Columbus. In 2007, he was awarded the Utah State Council Shining Armor Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Works of the Order. He is survived by his wife, Jeri McGeehan; children Debbie (Ken) Yocum, Cindy (Dan) Zulli and Mike McGeehan, who said they remember the lives he touched through living selflessly, giving generously and loving unconditionally. His life will be celebrated May 14, with 10 a.m. rosary, 11 a.m. Mass, and noon luncheon reception at St. George Catholic Church, 259 W. 200 N, St. George UT, 84770. In lieu of flowers sent to the home, the family requests they be sent to the Mass or, in lieu of flowers, send donations in honor of James McGeehan to the Knights of Columbus, St. George Chapter, St. George, UT. 2012