James C. McSherry (Jim) passed away surrounded by family on August 18, 2018. Jim McSherry was born in McAlester, Oklahoma on February 2, 1936 to Frank D. McSherry, Sr. and Mary Clinton McSherry. He was the youngest of 5 children. As a young boy Jim enjoyed listening to his father’s stories of being a pilot in World Wars I and II and had a fascination with airplanes. These interests lead him to study aeronautical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. After graduating in 1958 he became an officer in the United States Air Force. His experiences in the service took him to New Mexico where he met his wife Adrianne Bartoli. He later earned a Master’s Degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio. After working in the Los Angeles area for seven years he was transferred to the Houston Area to work on the design of the Space Shuttle. With NASA he was responsible for designing the avionics for the payload and other parts of this successful spacecraft. After retiring as a Lt. Col. in the Air Force in 1980, Jim then spent seven years working for TRW and finished his 41-year career with United Space Alliance in 1999.
In his free time Jim McSherry devoted himself to his family and his community. He was the founding scoutmaster of Troop 870 in 1977 and remained in that position for more than 17 years. As scoutmaster he mentored these young men and helped them learn the leadership roles needed to obtain their goals. He saw many of his scouts achieve the rank of Eagle including three of his sons. He also devoted his time to the Clear Lake United Methodist Church Choir and Habitat for Humanity. Jim also shared a passion for traveling along with his wife, had a wonderful sense of humor and always made people feel welcomed around him.
Jim is preceded in death by his Sisters Anne Steward and Mary Humphey and brother Frank D. McSherry, Jr. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 56 years Adrianne McSherry, sons Frank, Dennis, Robert and James McSherry, daughter in-laws Kari and Noelle McSherry and grandchildren Sean and Renee McSherry. He is also survived by his brother Walter, several nieces and nephews and many close friends. A memorial service will be held on September 1, 2018 at Clear Lake United Methodist Church at 11am. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Clear Lake United Methodist Church Music Excellence Fund, as Jim sang in the choir for over 40 years. Jim McSherry will be buried at a later date in his hometown of McAlester, Oklahoma.