James Ivvin McGough, husband, father, grandfather and entrepreneur of Dallas, Texas, passed away on August 31, 2023, at the age of 80, following a valiant fight with leukemia. He was born on September 22, 1942, in Monroe, LA. He enrolled in ROTC while a student at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe. Upon graduation he served as an officer in the Army. He married Sharon Ann Thompson on September 7, 1963 in Monroe, LA and they had three boys and three girls. Through his military service he was stationed at Ft. Bliss, TX, Vietnam, and Ft. Meade, MD. After serving in the Army, he moved to Texas. He worked on the Skylab project at NASA before moving to Dallas. While employed as a computer programmer at Steak & Ale, he developed the first polling software and started JSM Information Systems with his wife, Sharon. He loved gathering with his family at the beach, the Dallas Cowboys, broadway shows and the arts, and his Catholic faith. But most of all, he loved to travel to see his children and grandchildren, attending Irish step competitions, basketball, football and volleyball games, dance recitals, theatrical productions, singing performances and family visits. James was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Zurhellen. He is survived by his wife Sharon, his five children; Catherine (Robert) Kossler, Jim K. (Rachel) McGough, Lenna (Derek) Coffman, Bill (Pepper) McGough and Ed (Brooke) McGough,as well as his grandchildren, Emily (Spencer) Stucky, Clare (Stephen) Scobee, Ashley (Collin) Smith, Zachary Coffman, Mary McGough, Noah Coffman, William McGough, Joshua Coffman, Reace Ann Coffman, Jordan McGough, John Paul Coffman, Elijah McGough, Juliet McGough and Pippa McGough, and his brother Bob McGough of FL. Funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, preceded by a rosary at the church at 1:00 p.m.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Crane.com for the McGough family.
