1936
James
2021
James Travis Closson
September 9, 1936 — June 8, 2021
James (Jim) Travis Closson of Blue Springs, Missouri, (84), the son of Eugene E. and Julia Travis Closson, was born in Leon, Iowa on September 9, 1936 and passed away in Kansas City, Missouri on June 8, 2021.
Jim grew up in Lamoni, Iowa and was active in school and church events. He graduated from Lamoni High in 1954. He and Eleanor Lynn Shippy were married in 1957. He received an Associate of Arts Degree from Graceland College in 1956, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees from The University of Northern Iowa in 1959 and 1962. He earned his Ph.D. in 1975.
He was a teacher, counselor and coach at the Geneseo Consolidated School District Junior and Senior High schools from 1959 to 1962. From 1962 to 1965 he was on the administrative staff at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He returned to his hometown of Lamoni with his young family in 1965 and worked at Graceland College as an administrator and psychology professor. For ten years during that time, he had a nursery and landscaping business, The Green Gate Nursery. He was active in the Lamoni Community by being a member of the LCLA, Chamber of Commerce, City Council, County Selective Service Board, RLDS Church, Scout Committee, and attending school and college events.
He left Graceland in 1987 when he started his own technology consulting business, Paragon Business Group, in the Kansas City area. He retired at the end of 2013. Two of his sons worked with him for many of those years.
Jim liked to work with computers, gardening, genealogy, and reading novels. He also enjoyed directing the Travis Family Foundation by publishing the Newsletter, the Family Directory and organizing the family reunions.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Edward, and his sister, Mary Jane. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Eleanor (Shippy) Closson, his three sons, Calvin (Sharron), Bradley (Amy) and Jeffrey (Lisa), grandchildren, Nichelle Oxley (Joe), Erik (Katie), Lynley, and Kenli Mei Ping Closson, Macy (John) Douglas and Lily Meline, and three great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters and eight step-grandchildren.
An informal gathering of Jim’s family and friends is scheduled for September 18, 2021.
Private Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni, Iowa.
Contributions in memory of James T. Closson may be made to Graceland University for the Morden Center Project.
Jim grew up in Lamoni, Iowa and was active in school and church events. He graduated from Lamoni High in 1954. He and Eleanor Lynn Shippy were married in 1957. He received an Associate of Arts Degree from Graceland College in 1956, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees from The University of Northern Iowa in 1959 and 1962. He earned his Ph.D. in 1975.
He was a teacher, counselor and coach at the Geneseo Consolidated School District Junior and Senior High schools from 1959 to 1962. From 1962 to 1965 he was on the administrative staff at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He returned to his hometown of Lamoni with his young family in 1965 and worked at Graceland College as an administrator and psychology professor. For ten years during that time, he had a nursery and landscaping business, The Green Gate Nursery. He was active in the Lamoni Community by being a member of the LCLA, Chamber of Commerce, City Council, County Selective Service Board, RLDS Church, Scout Committee, and attending school and college events.
He left Graceland in 1987 when he started his own technology consulting business, Paragon Business Group, in the Kansas City area. He retired at the end of 2013. Two of his sons worked with him for many of those years.
Jim liked to work with computers, gardening, genealogy, and reading novels. He also enjoyed directing the Travis Family Foundation by publishing the Newsletter, the Family Directory and organizing the family reunions.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Edward, and his sister, Mary Jane. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Eleanor (Shippy) Closson, his three sons, Calvin (Sharron), Bradley (Amy) and Jeffrey (Lisa), grandchildren, Nichelle Oxley (Joe), Erik (Katie), Lynley, and Kenli Mei Ping Closson, Macy (John) Douglas and Lily Meline, and three great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters and eight step-grandchildren.
An informal gathering of Jim’s family and friends is scheduled for September 18, 2021.
Private Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni, Iowa.
Contributions in memory of James T. Closson may be made to Graceland University for the Morden Center Project.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Travis Closson, please visit our flower store.
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