James L. Mccormick

James McCormick was never afraid to take risks, and a history of his life reads like a page from the business section of the phonebook, with one successful venture closely following another. Between these entries, however, you can catch a glimpse of what was really important to James: his wife, Sonia; his children and grandchildren; his many friends; and a tireless quest to get the most out of life. Indeed, James was driven not so much by a desire for financial gains, as by the excitement of each new challenge to his intellect and business acuity. Whether considered from the perspective of career, leisure, or family, it is clear that James truly made the most out of his eighty-five years on this earth. James came into the world on August 23, 1926. His proud parents were Harold J. and Helen LaVerne (Hopkins) McCormick, and the family lived in Muskegon, Michigan. James was the first born, but he was soon followed by two brothers, Robert and John, and a sister, Mary. Harold earned a living as a dairy farmer, while Helen stayed at home to raise the children. Growing up, James was expected to do his share of chores on the family farm on Riley Thompson Road. In his free time, James usually played with his siblings, Jim and David Grimard, the Wilsons, and the Thompsons. He also enjoyed family picnics on the farm during the warm summer months. As James grew older, he attended first Baker School and then North Muskegon High School. In addition to academics, James was also good at sports, and played on the school football team. He was not the best driver, however, and as a teenager he had quite a habit of crashing his dads car! Luckily he survived, none the worse for the wear, and graduated from high school in 1944. The following year, James was proud to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force during the final months of WWII. In 1946, James enrolled in the Muskegon School of Business. Perhaps due to the lessons he learned there, or else simply due to some natural talent, throughout his long life James was very successful in business. In 1945, James had married Patricia Isley, and over the next ten years they were blessed by the births of four children: Susan, Mike, Chris, and Joel. James supported his family by working as a production manager at Continental Motors Military Division. Later, he transferred to become a service division manager for the Automotive Division. Creative and a risk-taker, James was never afraid to follow his dreams. In June of 1961, he sold everything and took his family on a boat trip. He just pointed the boat motor towards South America, and took off! James loved all activities involving water, and enjoyed teaching his children to water ski. They made it as far as Slidell, Louisiana, where the parents worked and the children attended school for the next few months. In December, they sold the boat and came back home to North Muskegon. After their aquatic adventure, James owned and operated an automotive quick lubrication facility, Lube King, Inc., from 1961 to 1962. In 1962, he founded McCormick Sands, Inc., an industrial sand company, which he owned until 1966. At that time, he sold the company to Nugent Sand, Inc., but remained as general manager and chief operating officer until 1984. In his free time, James enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. He was also a member of the Elks, the North Muskegon Republican Party, and the North Muskegon PTA James energy and enthusiasm for life seemed only to increase as the years went by, and in 1970 he ran for governor on an independent ticket. He had always been interested in politics, and his political friends included John Engler, Guy Vanderjagt, Dave Farhat, Holly Hughes and Bill Huizenga. He also hosted the local TV show Muskegon Today. In 1972, he bought a vegetable farm in Walhalla, Michigan. Finally, throughout the 1980s, he purchased Pierson Sand, Inc., Central Sanitary Landfill, and P Transport, Inc. On May 4, 1990, James married the love of his life, Sonia Mangalindan. James and Sonia lived in Pierson, Michigan, where their family soon grew to include son, Daryl, and daughter, Kathrina. James and Sonia lived life to the fullest, and some of their happiest memories were of travels to the far reaches of the globe. Their destinations included Hong Kong, Ireland, and, in memory of James mother, China (she had always wished to see China). James also loved spending time with his grandchildren, and every summer he and Sonia hosted a big family get-together. In recent years, James built and operated two gas stations one in North Muskegon, and one in Whitehall. In 2011, he bought Charlevoix Inn & Suites in Charlevoix, Michigan. Hard-working and with an energy that belied his eighty-plus years, James kept working, innovating, and improving until the day he passed away. Loyal, generous, and creative, James Lavern McCormick was a wonderful husband and father, grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members. James died on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at the age of eighty-five. He is survived by his wife, Sonia; his children, Susan, Michael (Diane), Chris (Denia), Joel (Lee), Daryl, and Kathrina; ten grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; his brothers, Robert and John; his sister, Mary; several nieces and nephews; and many friends. James was preceded in death by his parents; his son-in-law, Jerry Jellema; his brother-in-law, Robert Kramer; and his sisters-in-law, Rosemary and Mary. A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 12, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where James was a longtime member. Fr. Michael Olson will officiate. Interment will be at Holton Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, with a rosary service at 7:30 p.m., at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Please visit James personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you can learn more about his life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guest book.