James Orvel Mcgary

James Orvel McGary Sr. also known as "Granddaddy" was born on August 31, 1931 to Leo McGary and Jessie Marie Delespine in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1942 him and his family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. He attended Tech High School where he played baseball, basketball, football and track. He was talented in all sports. He also played for the Omaha Travelers Baseball team. While attending Tech High he was introduced to Phyllis Sims who became his high school sweetheart. They were married his senior year. They became members of the Church of the Living God where he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. In January 2014 James and Phyllis celebrated 64 years of marriage. They had four children. He worked a various company throughout his life. He work for Boeing helping build planes, he worked for over 20 years at the Packing House, and work as a security officer for Omaha Public Schools. He also spent time mentoring and coaching youth sports. Many of the youth knew him as Coach McGary. For James keeping kids out of trouble and off the streets was always a priority. James was very passionate about sports. After high school he coached for the Lake Elementary School baseball team. But football was his passion. He coached for sevel youth sports teams including the Red Machine also known as the North Omaha Athletic Association (N.O.A.A.) Bengals, the North Omaha Boys Club, the Bryant Center midget football team, Gladiators, and Swaggers. In 1993 & 1994 he was a part of the coaching staff for the N.O.A.A. Bengals who won the league championships. He has received several awards recognizing him for his excellence in coaching and mentoring. In 1999 he was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame for the Omaha Tech High Football 1949 school year. His final coaching position was the 2012-2013 season with Omaha North High Vikings where he assisted with coaching and transporting students to games. Granddaddy was known for driving his family and anyone with them all over the city. He took them to work, games, doctors appointments and anywhere else they needed to go. He loved to drive. Even though most of the time he would take the longest way. He enjoyed listening to jazz music, reading the bible, and hanging out with his friends at the barber shop. He loved attending his grandchildren and great grandchildren's sporting events. Although he was not on the coaching staff you could find him always coaching from the sidelines. One of his favorite sayings was: "Football is a man's sport". He was very proud watching his grandson who attended Omaha Central win state championships in 2009 & 2010. One of his final highlights of his life occurred in November 2013 where he watched one of his great grandson's win their first Class A State Football championship for Omaha North High Vikings. At the age of 82, Granddaddy was called home to walk the streets of gold on March 1, 2014 in his home in Omaha, Nebraska. It was the end of a 17 year long fight with Prostate Cancer. James is proceeded in death by his mother and father Leo McGary and Jessie Marie Delespine, brother Leo Hawkins, mother and father-in-law Mattie and John Sims and his brother in laws Donald Sims and Larry Sims. James leaves behind to cherish his memory, wife, Phyllis, sons, James "Jimmy" Jr. and Phillip Sr. (Marilyn) and daughters Sheila, and Sheryl; 11 grandchildren; Ken, Dawn, Phillip Jr., Shelina, Jamesa, Brandon, Carliss (Nolan), Tiffany (David), Mia, Chenay, and Sean; 40 great grandchildren and one unborn; Jasmin, Leah A'Lece, Dadrianna, Paris, Diera, Shaona, Jaylynn, Caprice, Philonna, Imarie, Tierra, Ja'Leah, NaTaea', TyShae, DreDyn, Ahnesty, Branae, BJ, Monte', Ja'Dyn, Brenden, Chandon, Lance, Lavonte Lavion, Lavel, Nolan II "Deuce", Nolan III "Tre' ", Davion, Da'Shawn, Da'Quan "Daddy", Ma'Raya, A'Shya, Anthony "Lil Smoke", ShyLynn, Gregory, Sairye, Elijah, Qunicy "Q"; 3 great great grandchildren and one unborn; Jordan, Keelan and Ariya; all of Omaha, Nebraska, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Granddaddy will truly be missed. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home, 1221 N.16th St., Council Bluffs, IA 51501, (712) 256-9988, Homegoing Service will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 7909 Mormon Bridge Rd, Omaha, NE 68152.