James M. Gregory

Funeral services for James M. Gregory will be held at New Iona Presbyterian Church in West Monroe at 2:00 P.M. Friday March 22, 2024, with Pastor Lane Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home. Visitation will take place at the church the hour preceding the funeral.

James McCrackin Gregory was born May 3, 1948, to James M. and Nancy McCrackin Gregory in Corinth, Mississippi. He was the youngest of their four children and only son. He died March 14, 2024, in Monroe, Louisiana.

Jim was predeceased by his parents; his son Brian Gregory; and two of his sisters, Margaret Myers and Susan Seale. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Frances; his son, Jeff Gregory and wife Elizabeth; his daughter, Anne Lomax and husband Bobby; his granddaughters, Sara Kate Gregory, Addie Gregory, Lorelai Lomax, and Scarlett Lomax, all of Monroe.   Other family include sister, Jeanne Spragins and husband Joel; brother-in-law Steve Seale and wife Pat, and the following nieces and nephews: Linda Myers Laine and husband John, Greg Myers and wife June, Jim Myers and wife Dana, Lucy Spragins Miller and husband Sean, Mark Spragins and wife Heather, Susan Spragins Washburn and husband Jeremiah, Deborah Seale Braswell and husband Steven, Jan Seale Hicks and husband Greg, and their families. 

Being a “Preacher’s Kid,” Jim moved several times in his childhood.  He first relocated from Corinth to New Orleans, Louisiana, then to Birmingham, Alabama, and finally to Batesville, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school in 1966.  After three years at the University of Arkansas, in 1969 Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and proudly served until 1973 as an Avionics Technician and Plane Captain with VMA-214, the Black Sheep Squadron, at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in California. During that time, he married the love of his life, Frances, on June 18, 1971.  Returning to civilian life, Jim earned a Law Enforcement degree from NLU and served 22 years with the Monroe Police Department and then 14 years with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.  During his career he was a patrolman, a detective, and a lead crime scene investigator.

In his retirement years since 2010 he has spent many happy hours working with a group of men to restore military aircraft for display at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum. He has also worked diligently each year with ticket sales during the Neville High School football season. A life-long Presbyterian as son of a Presbyterian minister, Jim has been a deacon and a faithful and active member of New Iona Presbyterian Church.   By the spring of each year, he began spending time sprucing up his pool area making it a welcoming place for family and friends where he loved being everyone’s favorite Cabana Boy. 

Being the grandfather of four lovely girls has been a great blessing. He has had a unique relationship with each one and has been a constant fan at recitals, ball games, presentations, performances, and school events. He has been their “Buddy.”

Pallbearers will be Aaron Carlson, Michael Creighton, John Davis, Owen Gregg, Tommy Gregg, Brad Lomax, Scott Martinez, and Jon Morris.   Honorary Pallbearers will be Ronnie Davidson and the aircraft restoration group of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to New Iona Presbyterian Church, the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, the Brian Gregory Memorial Scholarship Fund at ULM, or the Brian Gregory Scholarship at Neville High School.