James “Roger” McVey, 93, passed away on June 2, 2024 of natural causes. Roger was born March 1,
1931 to his parents James Louis and Valine (Hardis) McVey in Vermillion, Kansas. He loved sports and
lettered in basketball, football and track at Atchison County Community High School. Upon graduation
he was offered football scholarships from KU, KSU and Washburn, but he was in love and planned to
marry his high school sweetheart Goldie Sternsdorff which he did on September 25, 1949. Roger
joined the US Air Force in 1952 and was selected to be an instructor in aircraft electrical systems,
teaching both mechanics and fighter pilots about their aircraft with much travel across the country from
airbase to airbase. He then spent 6 years teaching at Amarillo Air Force Base and Amarillo College.
These were busy times raising two children, working three jobs and attending night classes to earn a
degree at West Texas State. In 1962 he joined the USBM Helium Research Center in Amarillo as head
of their Instrumentation Laboratory. Roger was also a craftsman and amazing handyman, able to build
or fix just about anything, including building guitar amplifiers and a backyard club-house for his two
boys whom he loved very much. In 1970 the family moved from Amarillo to Spokane where Roger set
up the Bureau's Instrumentation Lab at the Spokane Mining Research Center. During his career he
developed a large number of instruments to improve mine safety including a computerized van to
analyze the data. Roger has a large number of publications and holds two US patents. He retired from
the Bureau in 1986 to care for Goldie during her cancer treatments until her passing in 1992. Roger
later found love again with Patty (Buer) Nelson and began being called Jim. His new life included
country dancing, travel, time with Patty's daughter Janalynn and grandson Daniel, golfing with friends
and 6 years as VP of the Spokane Corvette Club. Roger was a Christian, teaching adult Sunday School
at Trinity Methodist Church (Amarillo) and serving in various board positions at Fowler United
Methodist Church in Spokane. He lived a life of integrity and helpfulness. Roger was preceded in death
by wife Goldie, siblings Richard (Kansas City), Pauline and Jeanne (both Port Orange, FL) and Earl
Dean (Effingham, KS). He is survived by sons James (and wife Donna of Austin, TX) and John (and
wife Jacque of Boise, ID), grandchildren Kelly (Austin), Raymond and Jeremy (both Boise) and greatgrandchildren
Harrison and Addison (Austin) and longtime sweetheart Patty (Spokane). Sincere thanks
to the staff and caretakers of Avamere at South Hill where Jim resided for the past 3 years. A graveside
service in Lancaster, Kansas will be held at a later date.
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