James H Mearns

James H. Mearns, 87, of Poughkeepsie, died May 4, 2012 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Born in Monticello, NY he was a son of the late John S. and Margaret Herner Mearns. He was a veteran of the US Army having served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. After retuning home he graduated from the Tulsa Oklahoma School of Meteorology. Until recent years Jim was an avid hiker and a member of the Catskill 3500 Club. He was an assistant civil engineer with the NYS Department of Transportation for 41 years. Jim was an active member of the Poughkeepsie Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and active with the Dutchess Peace Coalition. Volunteerism was an important part of his life. James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret "Peggy" Stauble Mearns of Ulster Park, three children, Daniel James and his wife Li-Piin Sung of Boyds, MD, Claire Marie Mearns and her husband Michael Adams of Lafayette, CO and Colleen Mary Crivello and her husband Raymond of Berkley, CA, one granddaughter, Heather Marie Fancher and her husband Simon and one great-grandson, Dylan Fancher. Jim's sister Helen Lyle of the Town of Ulster; is the youngest sibling of seven. Shirley Mearns of Kingston is the spouse of Jim's oldest sibling John. Jim is survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. A Memorial Celebration and Mass and is being planned for the 4th weekend of September for family traveling from further away. A Mearns reunion is also planned for that weekend. Memorial donations may be made to Poughkeepsie Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 67 South Randolph Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Donor Services, POB 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202; or Meals on Wheels, 10 Cannon St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.