Reverend James Clifford (McCormick) Fulbright, 86, passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2015, at the Saint Luke’s Hospice Care Center. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 24th at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Saint Luke’s Hospice Care Center.
James was born August 8, 1929 in Crawley’s Ridge, Campbell, Missouri, the son of Eugene Claud McCormick and Louella Elizabeth Mincy (Skidmore, McCormick, Fulbright) Fowler. He is preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, William Amaziah Fulbright; three siblings: Rev. Dr. Arthur C. McCormick Fulbright, William Kenneth McCormick Fulbright, Rev. William Amaziah Fulbright Jr, and one grandchild, John David Fulbright.
James is survived by Susan Lavinia (Hopkins) Fulbright, his wife of 31 years; one sibling: Valle Laville (Fulbright) Montgomery; five children: Brenda Jo (Fulbright) McCorcle, Rev. Dr. James Daniel Fulbright, John Paul Fulbright, Matthew DeWitt Fulbright, and James Walter Fulbright; six grandchildren: Christa Ann McCorcle, Matthew Marcus McCorcle, Louisa Maryann McCorcle, Megan Michelle McCorcle, Jason Daniel Fulbright, and Steven James Fulbright; and four great grandchildren: Addison Leigh McCorcle, Ethan Marcus McCorcle, Landan Matthew McCorcle, and Wyatt Jaxon McCorcle.
James distinguished himself as a world traveler in both the United Methodist Church and the Navy Chaplain Corps. Upon attaining his Masters Degree in Divinity from the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, he accepted a fellowship in Kawageta, Japan. Later, he would serve as an exchange minister in New Zealand, working with the Maori tribes in the Ngaruawahia area. Stateside, James dedicated much of his ministry to the service of rural Missouri parishes. His expertise as both pastor and counselor were particularly valuable to the small farmers hit hardest by the Farm Crisis of the 1980’s. As a chaplain, James served his country in the Vietnam War, and continued that service around the globe from Adak, Alaska to Guam. James retired as a Commander from the Naval Reserves in 1992.
Be at peace, servant; go with God, Reverend Jim.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO 816-690-4441