James (Jim) Blinn Messmore died peacefully on August 26, 2021. He was 96 years old. Jim resided at the Danbury in Hudson where he was loved and well cared for by numerous medical professionals, staff, and fellow residents. He grew up in Akron and graduated in 1943 from St. Vincent high school. If you knew him, you knew that he had 3 things in common with Lebron James! They both had the name James, they both graduated from St Vincent's and they both made the All-City Team for basketball. Jim was proud to be Irish! Following high school, he served in the US Navy during WWII and received a Purple Heart when his tug, the USS Sonoma, was attacked in the Pacific. He continued in the Civil Service for 6 years following his discharge from the Navy. Upon returning home he worked as an auditor for Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. where he retired from in 1987. Jim loved to play golf as well as watch all sports, especially those events involving his alma mater or his other favorite "fighting Irish" team, Notre Dame.

Preceded in death by his parents, Bridget (nee Doyle) and Charles B Messmore, his siblings, Betty Tynan, Chuck Messmore, Whitey Messmore, Sheila Gamble, Kathleen Messmore, Dolores Gombeda and John Messmore, and his wife, Joan (nee Huber). He is survived by his son Michael Messmore and his daughter and son-in-law Rita and Ted Stitzel and his grandchildren, Sam Stitzel & wife Jamie, Teddy Stitzel & wife Jody, Henry, Libby, Mary and Pete Stitzel as well as many loving nieces and nephews. He would especially want to thank his God child, Kathy for making sure he was well cared for in his final days.

Calling hours will be from 4-8pm, Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at the Dunn-Quigley Chapel, 3333 Kent Rd, Stow. Mass of the Christian burial will be Wednesday at 11am at St Mary's, Hudson with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Akron. Memorials may be made to the Cleveland Clinic Hospice.