James E. "Jim" Gooch, 79, of Wellsville, passed away at 8:35 p.m. Thursday May 2, 2024, at his home in Wellsville.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 noon, Thursday May 9, 2024, at the Church of the Resurrection in Wellsville with Father Derek Hooper officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Church of the Resurrection Cemetery in Wellsville.

Visitation will be Wednesday May 8, 2024, from 5 – 8 p.m. at Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville.

Jim was born March 6, 1945, in Wellsville. He was the son of Earl and Martha (Hudlin) Gooch. On October 22, 1968 at the Church of the Resurrection in Wellsville, he married the love of his life Mary Virginia Nation. They shared almost 50 years of marriage together and were the parents of 2 children.  Mary preceded him in death on February 13, 2018.

Jim served in the US Air Force, stationed overseas, as Military Police from 1963 until 1967.  This led to a calling to public service and he began his career in law enforcement working as a police officer for the St. Charles City Police Department. During his noteworthy career, he held the ranks of Patrolman, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Detective Lieutenant, Captain and Major and worked in almost every position within the department including Director of Professional Standards and Director of the St. Charles Police Academy (of which he was instrumental in founding). The police academy was one of his crowning achievements and was born out of a desire to implement in-service training for current police officers to professionalize policing in St. Charles County. This academy evolved into what is now the Eastern Missouri Law Enforcement Training Academy. In pursuit of continual personal and professional growth, he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and graduated the 118th session of the FBI National Academy. He retired as the acting chief after 33 years of dedicated service to the St. Charles City Police Department.

Jim loved to read as well as remain active playing softball, racquetball and golf through the years. He liked to travel and especially enjoyed taking his grandsons on vacation. A devoted and loving family man, his family was his number one concern and he loved any time that he could spend with his grandkids and great- grand kids. He was an active member of his community, serving on numerous boards and volunteering for charities throughout his life.

He is survived by one daughter, Kimberly Holmes, of Santa Fe, one son, Timothy Gooch (Lisa), of St. Charles;; one brother-in-law, Robert Nation (Caroline), of Martinsburg; three sisters-in-law, Dianne Gooch, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Linda Nation, and Shirley Nation, both of Wellsville; nine grandchildren, Courtney Holmes (Dustin), of Mexico, Brenden Gooch, of St. Charles, Noah Holmes (Amber), of Paris, Carmyn Burnett (Wyatt), of Paris, Hayden Gooch, of St. Charles, Austin Gooch, of St. Charles, Andi Holmes, of Paris, Cassidy Gooch, of St. Charles, and Brinley Gooch, of St. Charles; eight great grandchildren, Matthew Painter, Melanie Holmes, Maci Hinson, Miley Holmes, Jameson Burnett, Lucah Holmes, Sylvia Burnett, and Deklan Politte; and several nieces and nephews.In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Earl Gooch (Marie), Gary Gooch (Dorothy), and Bill Gooch; two sisters, Betty Baugh (Teddy), and an infant sister, Izetta Gooch; one grandson, William "Billy" Holmes; one great grandson, Wesley Pritchard; one nephew, Randy Gooch; and one great nephew, Casey Williams.

The family suggests memorial gifts to the Backstoppers of St. Louis. They may be sent in care of Myers Funeral Home, 203 E. Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.