James “Jim Sr.” Harvey Jolliff passed away at his home in West Plains, Missouri on January 11, 2024, at the age of 87 after a life wonderfully lived in a world well-traveled. He was born on July 4, 1936, to Cecil and Mattie Sharp Jolliff within their home in West Plains. Official records list his year of birth as 1937 due to the physician forgetting to submit his birth certificate until the next year. This filing error later led to his mother needing to sign her permission for him to join the U.S. Naval Academy in 1955 to begin basic training. He also trained as a Hospital Corpsman, which led to him working as a Surgical Ward Corpsman at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA in 1956. After which he continued to serve as a Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class until the year 1962.
In the year 1959, he married “the love of my life, Patricia Anne Duggan” on May 30th. Together they had three sons, Jim Jr., Mark, and Ty. He believed without doubt in the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy and placed all hope in Him. Because of this, he had a strong commitment to his love for his family. He was a husband, father, and grandfather and never failed to love us all with tenderness, patience, and intention. We knew without fail that he would be there supporting us through every accomplishment in our lives, and that he was a safe place to come rest our hardships and worries. He was so incredibly proud of his three boys and his favorite way to spend his time was with them, being involved in every aspect of their lives. Jim Sr. and Pat recently celebrated 64 years of marriage. A few years back he wrote, “she has stuck by me and supported me throughout all of our ventures in life, she is my rock and has been for 59 years”. Their continued love and devotion to each other is an inspiration to the whole family.
He valued education and during his life graduated from the Masters in Elementary and Secondary Education Program with his PhD, completed a Doctorate degree in Education and Curriculum Development, and developed the first State/Federal Special Education Compliance Plan. His passion was teaching, and one of the things that he loved to share most with his students was his love of aviation through field trips to the West Plains Regional Airport and Salem, Arkansas Airport, where he would have his Cessna aircraft ready and waiting. He treasured every single one of his students in his 58 years within the education system.
Greeted in Heaven with open arms by his loving parents, Cecil and Mattie Jolliff, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Billie Duggan, his older brother, Bob Jolliff, and younger sister, Barbara Jolliff Cook, her husband Jim Cook, nephew Mike Cook, and sister-in-law Linda Duggan.
He is survived in life by his beloved wife, Pat Jolliff; and their three adult children Jim Jolliff, Jr. and wife Teresa, Mark Jolliff and wife Tina, Ty Jolliff and wife Melynni; his grandchildren, Chad Jolliff and wife Taylor, Nathan Jolliff and wife Jessica, Kelsey Jolliff Roe and husband James, Logan Jolliff and wife Ashley; his great-grandchildren, who were his pride and joy, Rhilyn, Reed, Grayson, Tristan, Nola, Logan, and Arthur; his many cherished in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors that he loved and considered family.
He asked that there not be a funeral, but on a later date when there is a beautiful day for his family to gather to celebrate his life together as the great grandchildren run and play and he watches over us all.
Before he passed, he asked us to express his thankfulness to the town of West Plains and the community that he felt so blessed to be a part of; the Richards School District, West Plains R-7 School District, Southwest Missouri State University, Howell Valley School, and all the other school systems within the area and state. He cherished every moment working side by side with all of you and had so many wonderful stories to share. To all his students, you brought so much joy to his life. To this year, he could still remember the name of every single one of you. The Aircraft Owners Pilot Association and West Plains Regional Airport, he was so thankful for all the memories you made together sharing in your love of aviation. He looked forward to his monthly meetings with his classmates where all of you would gather to reminisce and catch up with each other’s lives. To the Valley View Community Church, he felt beyond blessed to be a part of your congregation. He loved worshipping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with everyone there. To the kind-hearted doctors and nurses within our community; from the depths of our hearts we thank you all for giving such care and attention to him. He had the utmost respect for you all.
High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
