James Charles McLucas

On May 1, 2019, James “Sonny” Charles McLucas passed away. He was born May 12, 1950 to David and Frances McLucas, the fourth of six children at St John’s Hospital in Oxnard, CA. James accepted Christ into his life at an early age attending Tried Stone Church of God in Christ. He was active in the choir under the leadership of C.L. Qualls. James attended school in Oxnard, graduating from Oxnard High School in 1968, where he was a star athlete in basketball, football, and track and field. He attended Ventura College for a year before enlisting in the US Army, serving in Korea, being honorably discharged in 1971. Upon returning home from the military, he received his Associate Arts degree from Ventura College.

On a blind date in 1973, he met who would become the love of his life, Karen Wise. They dated for a year and a half and were married on June 1, 1974. Of that union they had two children, Kristopher Sean McLucas on October 19, 1976 and Erin Nicole McLucas (Cahill) on February 12, 1980.

Sonny began working at Proctor and Gamble in 1977. Before retiring in 2006, he had risen to the highest achievement of mastery level. He made many friends along the way with a particular fondness of Shujuan Littlejohn, his wife Tracy, and their son Brandon. He truly considered them family.

Sonny was always an active, loving, and caring family man that supported whatever activity the kids were involved in, and they were always involved in something. There were trips to the pumpkin patch in preschool, band recitals, soccer matches, basketball games, and track and field finals road trips. Through all of the activities, Sonny and Karen were always there to support and cheer the kids on. As an avid basketball fan and player himself, he had the pleasure of coaching his nephew Maurice, son Kris, the Oxnard High School girls varsity team, and his grandson Spencer. Sonny loved to vacation with his family. Memories of a childhood road trip to the California state parks inspired him to recreate the same trip when he had his own family. He also loved to cruise, visiting many different ports through Mexico and various Caribbean islands.

Anybody that knew Sonny knew that he loved music. He loved all types, from gospel to rap, with 60’s R & B being his specialty. He had an extensive album collection, and over 25,000 songs on his iPod. At any given time you could find him listening to music or burning music for his loved ones. Sonny loved being around his family and friends, and had an open door policy. Weekends were always a fun time for playing cards (which he learned how from Karen’s family) and watching and talking sports with his best friends Laron Matlock, Haywood Merricks and Al Walker.

Proceeding him in death are his parents David and Frances McLucas, sister Darlene Ballard, sister Lorraine Qualls and brother-in-law Herman Qualls, brother Leslie McLucas, and sister-in- law Jeri Wise. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Karen McLucas, son Kristopher McLucas, daughter Erin and son-in-law Steven Cahill, grandsons Spencer Harrison Cahill, Donovan Xavier Cahill, brother David Jr and sister-in-law Sharon McLucas, sister Diane Moore and brother-in-law David Jr, sister Saundra and brother-in-law Eric Middleton, sister-in-law Vivian Wise, brother-in-law Richard and sister-in-law Patricia Wise, sister-in-law Lori Wise, and a host of nieces, nephews and God children.