(From Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home)James N. (Jim) Mauldin, 101, died peacefully at his home at The Waterford on December 13, 2021, after a brief hospital stay.
He was born on August 3, 1920 in Six Mile, South Carolina to Ted and Katie Mauldin. After his mother died when he was 9 years old, Jim experienced the pain of a broken home and set out to improve his life when he moved to Washington, D.C. in 1935 to live with his older sister and her husband.
After a year in Washington, he learned that one of his uncles had moved to Missouri, so he sought another elevation in life by hitchhiking across the country seeking steady guidance in Reeds Spring. Upon arrival, he discovered his uncle had moved back to South Carolina. Alone, and virtually broke, his life took a turn in the right direction when a childless couple in Carthage took him in as their “son.” Jim completed his senior year and graduated from Carthage High School in 1938.
After a semester at the University of Arkansas, Jim moved to Springfield to study biology at SMS (Missouri State University). After his junior year, he enlisted in the Army and served with great distinction during World War II in the 63rd Infantry Division in France and Germany. He earned a Battlefield Commission; Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster; Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge; Presidential Unit Citation; and three battle stars.
Returning to Southwest Missouri after the war, he completed his senior year at SMS, and met his future wife of 65 years, Norma Ellison. They were married on August 22, 1948, and the couple moved to Lawrence, Kansas where Jim earned a Master’s Degree in bacteriology at the University of Kansas. Jim and Norma’s oldest son, Phil, was born in Lawrence in 1949. Youngest son, Greg, was born in 1953 back in Springfield. Jim spent the better part of his career in sales with Merck & Co. in Springfield and Kansas City.
From his childhood observations of Jim Crow in South Carolina, and the horrible memories of oppressed people in Europe, Jim developed an intense disgust with any form of prejudice. As a way to express these feelings, he created the Ethnic Life Stories Project, a collection of life stories of people from different races, cultures and backgrounds who have settled in the Springfield area. He loved people, and was proud to promote the diversity of Springfield’s population. The Ethnic Life Stories collection is available online at Springfield-Greene County Library. The Trail of Trees at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park is also part of his legacy to diversity and inclusion of all.
Jim’s wife, Norma; his mother Katie; foster parents, Wade and Georgia Bradley; brother, Elvin; sisters Christine and Willene preceded him in death. He is survived by his sons Phil (Molly) of Atlanta; Greg (Sue) of Louisville; and 8 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to attend burial services with full military honors at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 20, at Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Guests are requested to wear masks. The family would like to pay special thanks to all residents and staff members of The Waterford, and friend and caregiver, Judy Kiefer, along with friend, Doyle Fugett, who helped make Jim’s final years happy and enjoyable. The family also requests no flowers, and if desired, memorial contributions can be made to Friends of The Garden, (friendsofthegarden.org/donate).
After a semester at the University of Arkansas, Jim moved to Springfield to study biology at SMS (Missouri State University). After his junior year, he enlisted in the Army and served with great distinction during World War II in the 63rd Infantry Division in France and Germany. He earned a Battlefield Commission; Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster; Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge; Presidential Unit Citation; and three battle stars.
Returning to Southwest Missouri after the war, he completed his senior year at SMS, and met his future wife of 65 years, Norma Ellison. They were married on August 22, 1948, and the couple moved to Lawrence, Kansas where Jim earned a Master’s Degree in bacteriology at the University of Kansas. Jim and Norma’s oldest son, Phil, was born in Lawrence in 1949. Youngest son, Greg, was born in 1953 back in Springfield. Jim spent the better part of his career in sales with Merck & Co. in Springfield and Kansas City.
From his childhood observations of Jim Crow in South Carolina, and the horrible memories of oppressed people in Europe, Jim developed an intense disgust with any form of prejudice. As a way to express these feelings, he created the Ethnic Life Stories Project, a collection of life stories of people from different races, cultures and backgrounds who have settled in the Springfield area. He loved people, and was proud to promote the diversity of Springfield’s population. The Ethnic Life Stories collection is available online at Springfield-Greene County Library. The Trail of Trees at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park is also part of his legacy to diversity and inclusion of all.
Jim’s wife, Norma; his mother Katie; foster parents, Wade and Georgia Bradley; brother, Elvin; sisters Christine and Willene preceded him in death. He is survived by his sons Phil (Molly) of Atlanta; Greg (Sue) of Louisville; and 8 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to attend burial services with full military honors at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 20, at Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Guests are requested to wear masks. The family would like to pay special thanks to all residents and staff members of The Waterford, and friend and caregiver, Judy Kiefer, along with friend, Doyle Fugett, who helped make Jim’s final years happy and enjoyable. The family also requests no flowers, and if desired, memorial contributions can be made to Friends of The Garden, (friendsofthegarden.org/donate).
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