James Edgar Gooch, Jr.

James Edgar Gooch Jr., 72, of Chatham, passed away on Sunday May 10, 2015 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on January 20, 1943 in Springfield to James Edgar and Alberta Welsh Gooch Sr. He married Sheila Murphy on September 12, 1964 in Springfield and she survives.

Mr. Gooch is also survived by his daughter Lisa (Kirk) Price of Chatham, four grandsons: Steerling (Leslie) Price of St. Louis, Hunter (Fiancé Natalie) Price of Chatham, Manning and Conley Price both of Chatham, one sister Rita (George) Nafziger of Springfield, one nephew Philip Nafziger of Waynesville, MO., one niece Nancy Nafziger of Shelbyville, and one cousin Jeanette (Fred) Fry of Springfield.

James was a US Army Veteran serving during Vietnam. He was the owner and operator of Gooch and Associated Commercial Printing from 1973 until his retirement in 1995. He was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where he received the Tom Landry Award and he was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America (Troop 3) where he received the Order of the Arrow. James enjoyed fishing, camping trips, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of Cherry Hills Baptist Church since 1953.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Friday May 15, 2015 at Cherry Hills Baptist Church, 2125 Woodside Road with burial to follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery where the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County will conduct Military Honors. The family will meet friends from 9:00am until the time of service Friday at church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Cherry Hills Baptist Church or to Fellowship of Christian Athletes and please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com.