James Newsom

Born October 6, 1944 in Carrollton, Missouri, Jim spent his childhood years in Bosworth, Missouri and graduated from Bosworth High School as its valedictorian in 1962. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Missouri and the University of Missouri-Columbia-School of Law where he was a member of Order of the Coif, the Board of Editors of the Missouri Law Review, the Law Society, and Phi Alpha Delta Law fraternity. He received his JD Degree in 1968.

Following Law School, Jim entered the U.S. Navy and graduated from the military’s Officer Indoctrination, Naval Justice, and Judge Advocate General’s Schools. He was stationed in Washington, DC where he served as a military judge in the JAG Corps following his admittance to the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.

Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1972, he joined the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon of Kansas City, MO, where he became a partner in 1976. Specializing in the areas of Business Litigation, Global Product Liability, Commercial Litigation and Toxic Torts, Jim acquired extensive experience in international products liability and commercial litigation as national counsel for the Lorillord Tobacco Company. In 1990, he moved to London, England with his family to direct the activities of the firm’s UK office, returning to Kansas City in 1993.

In 2011, he joined the New York law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed and served as Counsel in the firm’s litigation department. At the time of his illness, his practice concentrated on national products liability litigation in the state and federal courts with a strong foundation in international products liability in Europe and Latin America.

Remembered as a kind, generous and loving husband, father, son, brother and friend, Jim lived a beautiful life with many outside interests and passions to include a treasured car collection, skiing, sailing, running, and a perpetual pursuit of adventure. He was a brilliant, thoughtful man who lived every day to its fullest, embracing the grand and simple things in life equally. He was a spirited student of life and a great teacher of it. Jim believed in being happy, and he truly was.

He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas E. Newsom, and survived by his mother, the former Hazel L. (Mitchell) Newsom of Carrollton, MO, his loving wife of 30 years, Sherry, of Leawood, KS, children Ben and Holly Bawden, of New York, NY, sister Nancy, and brother-in-law Mick Whipkins of Carrollton, MO and many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at St. Joseph's Hospital, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, and especially to Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital for their loving care provided during Jim's illness.

Visitation will be on December 2 from 6-8 p.m. at McGilley State Line Chapel. Funeral services will be on December 3 at 10 a.m. at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, KS. Burial services with military honors will take place at the Leavenworth National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to The Midwest Innocence Project, 605 W. 47th Street #222, KC, MO 64112.

Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arrangements, McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Mo 64145, (816) 942-6180.