James McElroy Jr.

Most importantly in life, James accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and he was baptized in 1998 at Galilee Baptist Church in Barberton, Ohio. Most recently he enjoyed services at the Arlington Church of God, Akron, Ohio.

He attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from The University of Akron in 1975. That same year he began employment with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as an Industrial Engineer. While working, he decided to further his education by attending The University of Akron School of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1985.

During his employment he held several Manufacturing Plant assignments from 1983 to 1990 as HR Manager and Principal Negotiator for URW Labor Contracts. From 1990 to 1995 he was the Manager of Employee Relations for the Engineered Products Division. In this role he directed the activities of 16 HR Managers and was part of the Master Contract negotiating team for the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the URW. From 1995 to 1998 he was the Manager of Employment Practices, responsible for proper handling of EEOC and FEPA discrimination charges. Following that assignment in 1998 he was appointed Director of Corporate Diversity & Compliance. He retired from Goodyear in 2004 and went into private practice establishing his business as President of NoTrial Limited, with his area of specialty being arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution. He then worked for Kent State University as the Director of EEO/AA from 2008 to 2010. Following his time at Kent State, he returned to private practice. He was a member of several professional organizations, including the Ohio Bar Association, the Akron Bar Association, and Past President of the Akron Canton Barristers. He was associated with Resolute Systems and the American Arbitration Association as one of their arbitrators/mediators. He was also a Lifetime Member of the NAACP.

James enjoyed sports, especially football, and the great outdoors. Some of his favorite things to do were fishing, camping, hunting and the simple pleasure of walking his dog, Maxx, through the parks. He loved the water, and when on vacation, if there was an ocean nearby, he would jump in and go pretty far out on a swim, which made Liz quite nervous. He loved to travel. He and Liz shared amazing times together on various domestic vacations, including one of his favorite places on the planet, Martha’s Vineyard. He also loved their times in Mexico, Hawaii, Italy and Argentina. One of his last fun trips was to Las Vegas with his brother, Richard, in 2020. Movies were also a favorite form of entertainment. James loved cooking, and many can attest to his excellent skills in the kitchen, with his known specialty being smoked salmon.

James was preceded in death by his sons, Marcus McElroy and Damion McElroy; his parents James and Mary McElroy; his father and mother in-law, Alcee Butler Sr. and Betty Jean Butler; brothers-in-law Jerry Butler and Andre Morton; nephew Demetrius Butler.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Liz McElroy; grandsons Jamarion McElroy and Christian McElroy (Ft Myers, FL); brother Richard McElroy (Austin, TX); sisters Phyllis Jordan (Austin, TX) and Tanya Greer (Akron, OH); sister-in-law Linda Morton; brothers-in-law Alcee Butler, Jr.; Ronnie (Amelia) Butler; Rev. Steven Butler; special nephew, Brandon Morton, special niece, Kiesha Butler. Special friends in his life were Dr. Daniel Sanders; Omar Moore, whom he referred to as “son”, Dr. Curtis Williams, Dr. Lee Byrd and Herb Johnson, Jr. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his canine best buddies, Maxx and Quincy.

Visitation will begin at 11:00a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 3653 W Market St., Fairlawn, OH 44333. The Celebration of Life service will immediately follow at 12:00 Noon. Dr. Daniel Sanders, eulogizing and Rev. Steven Butler, officiating. Entombment at Rose Hill Burial Park.

Condolences may be sent to The McElroy Family, c/o Rose Hill Funeral Home at the address noted above.