Mannon James McPherson

Mannon James (Jim) McPherson departed on April 5, 2022, after living 90 years on this planet. Born in Morrisville NY in 1931, he was the youngest of 4 siblings. His parents Mannon Greer (Mac) McPherson and Helen Beals McPherson met at Cornell and settled in Morrisville in 1921.

Dad graduated Morrisville-Eaton Central School in 1949 and enlisted in the Navy, following the example of his brother Kenneth who joined the Army for WW2. Dad was a radarman on the USS Brown (DD-546), a Fletcher-class destroyer commissioned in 1943 that earned two battle stars during the Korean conflict. After Korea, Dad came back to NY to live a peaceful life.

He enrolled at Syracuse University where he studied electrical engineering with a minor in softball. Dad somehow acquired a list of Walker Cottage nurses; Nancy Lewis, our Mom-to-be, was at the top. He called and invited her on a date, but she was busy. Unfazed, he went to the next name on the list and said “OK, let me talk to her then.” Mom’s friend returned from the date and reported: “that Jim McPherson is a funny guy, but he sure drinks a lot.”

They got married in Hendricks Chapel at the end of their senior year and bought a house in Liverpool, close to Dad’s new job at General Electric. He soon left GE for a teaching job at Central Tech. His GE boss tried to lure him back during a round of golf. Dad responded: “Sure, as long as I get summers off.”

Mom and Dad had three sons in Liverpool. Summers were spent camping in the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes, usually with Dad’s college roommate Don Polson and his family and some of their neighbors. Dad continued his education, earning a Masters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His teaching career took him to BOCES in Mexico NY and finally to an Assistant Professor position at SUNY Morrisville. He brought his family back to his hometown where to everyone’s surprise they had another son after a 15-year break. Dad’s stunned comment: “All my plans for the next 18 years just suddenly changed.” He eventually retired from SUNY and lived in Morrisville the rest of his life. The village suited him fine.

Dad enjoyed playing golf and horseshoes, watching sports, and relaxing at Eaton Brook Reservoir.  He could scoop a hot grounder on the short hop and swam the butterfly stroke. He was a lifelong fan of Syracuse University athletics. He attended many reunions of the USS Brown.

He was preceded in death by his brother Kenneth and sister Esther Donahue. He is survived by Nancy, his wife of nearly 64 years, and by his sister Doris Williams, his four sons: Douglas, Donald, James, and Andrew; seven grandchildren, two great-grand daughters, and several beloved nieces and nephews.

He lived a good life and had many friends. We miss him.

The McPherson family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the staff at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse for the wonderful, professional, and supportive care they provided Dad and our family in his final days with us.

Services will be held on April 23, 2022 at Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home in Morrisville, NY. Calling hours from 10:00 am followed by services at 12:00 pm and interment with military honors in the Village View Cemetery, Morrisville. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Morrisville Fire Department, American Legion, or Morrisville Library.