James Ross McConnaughey

James Ross McConnaughey, 89, of La Marque, Texas, passed away Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at Mainland Medical Center Hospital in Texas City, Texas. Mr. McConnaughey was born Feb. 3, 1923, in Rogers, Ark. He was the son of Addison Ross and Sallie Breeze McConnaughey. He is survived by his wife, Thelma Mozelle McConnaughey; two sons, Rusty and Kathy of Houston, Texas, and Robert D. of Mesquite, Texas; brothers, Don McConnaughey, Ocean Shores, Wash., and Ted McConnaughey of Rogers; three sisters, Nancy McConnaughey Lancaster, Mobile, Ala., JoAnn McConnaughey Barker, Rogers, Ark., and Susie McConnaughey Baker of Higginsville, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruth McConnaughey Thompson, Centerton, Ark.; one brother, Ralph D. McConnaughey, Des Moines, Wash. Jim was raised in the Prairie Creek area; he attended Sunnyside Elementary School and Rogers High School. He enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard and was mobilized during his senior year of high school. He did his basic training at Ft. Sill, Okla. He was assigned to pilot training school in Chickasha, Okla. His first training plane was a PT-17. He was assigned to combat training in Liberal, Kan., to fly B-24 bombers. Additional training was at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. He was deployed to Europe as a bomber pilot. He was shot down and taken prisoner, then was liberated Sept. 17, 1944, in Bulgaria. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart and numerous other medals. He was a resident of La Marque for over 50 years and retired as manager from Central Freight Line after 25 years of service with the company. He later retired from Evergreen Helicopter Company. He was a former member of the Rotary Club of La Marque and a Paul Harris Fellow. Services were held in Le Marque, Texas, on Aug. 16, 2012.