Jim McNerney
REEDLEY, CALIF. – It is with deep sadness that the family informs Jim’s many friends of his recent passing. A California native, Jim was born on January 11, 1932, in Salinas, California and passed away in Reedley, California on March 29, 2024.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sugar; son Mike of Fort Klamath, Oregon; daughter and son-in-law, DeDe and Ron Darnell, Sanger, Calif.; granddaughter Nicole McNerney of Austin, Texas; grandson Cody McNerney and his wife Hannah of Klamath Falls, Oregon; and great grandson Brady. Margaret McNerney, mother of Jim, preceded him in passing.
Jim was lovingly raised by his single mother Margaret in Salinas. As an only child he embraced being a part of a larger family once he married. He was a graduate of Salinas High School Class of 1950. Upon graduation Jim continued his education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before beginning life as a cattleman and part-time rodeo cowboy.
He joined the Rodeo Cowboy Association in the mid-1950’s and became a Gold Card (life) Member in 1982. He also was a founding member of the Senior Gold Card Team Ropers Association established in 1989. As much as he enjoyed the competition, it was the friendship of his fellow ropers he valued the most.
Jim was a Korean War Veteran. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 in a recon-unit near the 38th parallel during the last months of the war. As a veteran, he was a part of the Central Valley Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2019 with his son Mike as his “companion.”
As far as Jim was concerned, the “greatest invention of all time” is The Cowboy Channel on TV. He was a fan of rodeo and old-time western movies, and active in information sharing with long time buddies.
“Jim lived the life he wanted to live.”
A gathering of friends and celebration of life was held April 24 at Kings River Winery in Sanger, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund @ justincowboycrisisfund.org or 101 ProRodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919.
