James Moody McCormick, 85, of Adamstown, MD, died on February 9, 2022, at his home.
Born on March 15, 1936, in Charleston, WV, he grew up in St. Albans, WV, attending school there as a
child before spending four years at the Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, WV. He graduated from
Greenbrier in 1954, and went on to Duke University. Inspired by his Uncle Jerry, who was a biochemist,
he studied chemistry and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1958. After graduating from
Duke, he returned to West Virginia where he worked briefly as a chemist for Union Carbide. Deciding
working with chemicals was not for him, he relocated to Washington, DC in 1961 to begin what would
be a long and successful career as a marketing executive with GEICO in Chevy Chase, MD. There he was
able to leverage his skills as a creative wordsmith and avid reader with an appreciation for a compelling
story or quality pun. He met his wife Catherine at a Bridge game soon after moving to Washington, DC,
and they were married in Betheny, PA, on June 11, 1966. They would remain happily married for fifty-
five years.

He very much enjoyed spending time with his daughter and four sons and their families. He loved
nothing more than to visit with or hear about the accomplishments of his twelve grandchildren. He will
be deeply missed by all of them. He had many interests that he was passionate about and was delighted
to share with others, a love of nature chief among them. He enjoyed birding, hiking the Appalachian
Trail or just about any trail, playing with his dogs he loved dearly; reading histories, mysteries, and
biographies; watching classic movies, Austin City Limits, his favorite murder mysteries, or a Duke
basketball game. He welcomed others to engage in these activities with him and would always impart
knowledge to those who were fortunate enough to have accepted his invitations to participate. He
traveled extensively with his loving wife, both domestically and abroad, they enjoyed those trips
immensely.

He was predeceased by his mother, Dorothy May McCormick, and father, James Moody McCormick, II;
his brother, Jeremiah McCormick, and four sisters: Franz Varney, Molly Cone, Mary McCormick, and
Margot “Sherry” Harrison.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Catherine McCormick who cared for him in his final years. In addition,
he leaves behind five loving children and their families: Michael McCormick, of Columbia, MD, Robert
McCormick, of Ellicott City, MD, John McCormick, of Lancaster, NH, Timothy McCormick of Raleigh, NC,
and Mary “Mindy” McCormick, of Asheville, NC.