Richard Neal James And Mrs. Patricia Lee James

Command Sergeant Major Richard Neal James, retired, of Calallen died peacefully June 15 in Corpus Christi after a lengthy illness that followed a laryngectomy he underwent previously due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. He was 93. Mrs. Patricia Lee James died February 1, 2017, of Alzheimer's disease. She was 85. The couple were married for 68 years and have two surviving children: Candy Lee James of Calallen and Neal Lee James of Oregon. They are also survived by three grandchildren — Holly James La Masters, Heather Elizabeth James and Keith Richard James — plus two great grandsons, all of California. They are also survived by CSM James's brother Michael Klinefelter and his wife Virginia Klinefelter, niece Kati McCreight and nephew James Klinefelter, plus several great nieces and nephews. Command Sergeant Major James was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on September 2, 1923, to Romulus Neal James and Norma Tate James. They moved to Wrightwood, California, where he became a proficient ski jumper, ice barrel jumper and motorcyclist. He graduated from Victorville High School, where he also played on the football team. At the age of 17 he was drafted into the army during World War II and served in the Pacific even though he was an only son and grandson. After returning from the war, he had his own masonry business. He was an avid motorcyclist and raced his bikes in Los Angeles. He became a member of a new club made up of mostly young veterans called the Boozefighters, also well known as "The Wild Ones." He was introduced to Patricia McAuley by her sister at a race. Mrs. James was born in Los Angeles, California, to Lee Fowler McAuley and Maxine Olive McAuley on May 7, 1931. Her parents are deceased, as is her only sister, Mary Lee McAuley. She has one surviving brother: Donald Lee McAuley of Los Angeles. She graduated from Washington High School in Los Angeles. She enjoyed roller dance and gymnastic competitions, and won the title of Miss Muscle Beach. Mrs. James was a responsible, dedicated army wife, managing and moving her family in support of her husband's service to five states and Europe. Mrs. James was active as a Monterey County Elementary band booster, a Girl Scout leader for Troop 3040 of Prunedale, California, and an active Elkhorn Yacht Club member. She retired as a Civil Servant, Manager of Inspection, for all family quarters at Fort Ord, California. Both she and her husband were avid golfers in retirement. They were members of Cimarron Country Club of McAllen, Rockport Country Club and River Hills Country Club, Calallen, all in Texas. CSM James and Patricia eloped and were married in Tijuana, Mexico. He was drafted a second time during the Korean War. At this time, he stayed in the army and served 27 more years as a career soldier. He became a three-war veteran. He was stationed on three different tours during the Vietnam War. In Vietnam he became an avid sailor after learning to sail on another soldier's junk. After returning to California, he involved his whole family in sailing in San Francisco on Monterey Bay. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and taught navigation and boat safety locally. The couple retired and relocated to Texas to be near his elderly mother. They moved to Corpus Christi about 19 years ago and loved the area for its weather and people. After Patricia's passing, CSM James wanted to wait until his death so that they could be memorialized together, and he could be buried together with his sweetheart, his beautiful Pat, the love of his life. Military honors will be bestowed on the couple at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery on Friday, June 30, at 1 p.m. A memorial for the couple will be celebrated at the Sawyer-George Funeral Home on Saturday, July 1 at 1 p.m. in Calallen.