James A Maguire

James Andrew Maguire was born on March 13, 1929, to Charles Cleveland Maguire and Selma Irene (Johnson) Maguire in Rockford, Illinois. Joining sister, Irene, and brother, Charles, the three siblings lost their mother at an early age. This contributed to their close, loving and life-long bond. Raised by his Aunt Pearl and Uncle Alvin Turnquist, Jimmy attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Irene, Illinois and graduated from Belvidere High School in 1947.

As a kid he worked on the family farm and, with his father, supplied black horses to the US Army Remount Program. Jim also worked at his uncle’s general store, and at DeWayne’s Sale Barn. He joined the US Army where he trained at Camp Carson and served in Korea, claiming to have “won the Korean War single-handedly as a PFC.” In later years he was selected to revisit those memories as an Honor Flight participant touring war memorials in Washington, D.C.

Upon returning from the Korean war, Jim reconnected with a high school classmate, Donna Jean Whiting, and experienced a whirlwind romance. Plied with shrimp cocktails and martinis by her parents, Jim proposed to Donna, and they married on June 28, 1953. They welcomed daughter Melissa in 1955 and son Kevin in 1957.

With utmost dedication from his wife, Jim quickly moved upward in the garage door industry. Serving in many Overhead Door Corporation capacities while transferring throughout the country, he ultimately was the National Sales Manager before leaving ODC in Dallas, Texas.

Tired of business travel and desiring more family time, the Maguires moved to Colorado in 1969, purchasing the local garage door distributorship, Overhead Door Company of Colorado Springs. Jim continued growing the business and further expanding to Pueblo and Grand Junction. Achieving numerous sales achievement awards, the Company was recognized as one of the top ten Overhead Door distributorships nationwide. Maguire also proudly served as a distributor representative on the Overhead Door Corporation’s Presidents’ Council. “We’ve been doing this…for over 50 years!”

Jim and Donna embraced life in Colorado Springs. Becoming a pillar of the community, Jim participated in many civic, business-related and philanthropic organizations. He served as past President and was a Paul Harris Fellow of East Colorado Springs Rotary Club, a director of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and as Past President and 52-year Honorary Life Member of the Pikes Peak Range Riders. Jim loved promoting the western lifestyle, meeting like-minded individuals and leading in his many roles.

He also participated in the Colorado Springs Executives Association and the Soil Conservation Society of El Paso County. Jim enjoyed membership in the Home Builders Association and the Colorado Springs Chamber, where he was named Businessman of the Year in 1989. He loved supporting the USAFA Blue and Silver Club and Falcons football, where his trademark Overhead Door Doghouse could be seen at tailgate parties.

Embracing his Irish heritage, Jim could be seen with his shillelagh and festive green plaid coat and top hat strolling in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Colorado Springs. He was thrilled to serve as Grand Marshall in 1993! The cold could not keep him from also joining The Parade of Lights in December and the heat couldn’t deter him from driving his Model A in the Monument Fourth of July Parade. The crowds looked forward to seeing his signature truck and trailer featuring a lively honky-tonk piano player belting out the tunes.

After moving to Monument in 1983, Jim could finally consolidate his secret stashes of antiques and farming memorabilia. He and Donna enjoyed displaying and sharing their ever-growing collection. As the self-proclaimed Co-Mayors of Maguireville, they were generous with their famous museum and their time, hosting many parties, meetings, events and school kids on field trips to their barn.

Because of his intense community involvement and his many contributions to the Tri-Lakes Area, Monument Hill Sertoma Club was proud to recognize Jim as its 2008-2009 recipient of the Service to Mankind Award. As big supporters of the Monument YMCA, the Wellness Center bears Jim and Donna Maguire’s names.

Mr. M was always selling, trading and glad-handing with his trademark humor and infectious smile. “Jumpin’ Jimmy” made each person he met feel special. He was easy to like and admired by everyone. He loved to flirt with ALL the girls and, with his bigger-than-life personality, and twinkle in his eyes, he lit up a room and started the celebration. Jim Maguire was one in a million!

As his family grew, Jim embraced in-laws, out-laws, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and bonus children. He was always surrounded by good friends and family. Whether you knew him as Dad, Grampie, Gramps, Pipi, Brother-inlaw, Uncle, Mr. M or Friend, his heart was big enough for everyone.

Jim was preceded in death by Donna, his wife of 68 years, his parents, sister Irene Taplin, brother Charles Maguire and sisters-in-law Ardith Tangman and Mary Lu Maguire. His brother-in-law, Richard D. Taplin, and nephews, Charles and David Taplin and Tom Tangman also departed before him, along with great-great niece Charlie Jane Soto.

Jim is survived by his daughter Melissa (Richard) Powell, son Kevin (Catherine) Maguire, grandsons Tyler (Joanne Saunders) Powell and Logan (Laura) Powell and granddaughter Morgan (Joshua) Wright. Jim also leaves Nicholas (Katherine) Beardsley, Matthew (Erin) Beardsley, Anna (Hunter Ventry) Galindo, Adrienne (Johnnie Enger) Galindo, Joseph (Alyssa Marcotte) Galindo, Allison (Levi) Rauch, Kim (Ronnie) Taylor, Brian Belger and 15 dear great-grandchildren. Special nieces Sallie (James) Soto, Deborah (James) Stanton and Susan (David) Casey, nephew Paul (Penny) Maguire and brotherin-law Gordon Tangman also mourn his passing. Jim will be sorely missed and remembered forever by so many others whose lives he touched, including many precious great and great-great nieces and nephews. What an amazing legacy!

Jim’s family wishes to thank his devoted caregivers and Abode Hospice team for their loving and compassionate care over the last several months. The family’s gratitude also extends to his many wonderful friends for their continuous love and support.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, June 13, 2025, at 10 a.m. outside at Maguireville.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Jim’s honor to the Pikes Peak Range Riders Foundation, PO Box 758, Colorado Springs CO 80901 or to The Church at Woodmoor, 18125 Furrow Road, Monument CO 80132.