Jim Henderson

(Aug. 20, 2007)

Lt. Col. James “Jim” Harold Henderson died Monday, Aug. 20, in the Big Horn National Forest while piloting a Civil Air Patrol plane on a search mission for a 16-year-old boy.

His home had been in Cowley for the past 10 years.

He was born June 18, 1948, in Knoxville, Tenn.He was retired from the Active and Reserve U.S. Army. He was sworn into active service in 1971, by Brig. General George Patton, III, at Fort Knox, Ky. He served in Frankfort, Germany, 3rd Armored Division; served in the Persian Gulf War as an area officer for Asia and was a military attaché in Nepal, 1994, for which he received the Defense Meritorious Service Metal.

Henderson was a self-employed businessman and  seven-year veteran of the Civil Air Patrol. He served as a search and rescue officer, counter-drug officer, flight release officer, mission check pilot, cadet orientation pilot, SAR/DR mission pilot, transport mission pilot and moral leadership instructor for the Wyoming Wing.

He was an Eagle Scout, President of the Officers Christian Fellowship and former member of First Baptist Church of both Knoxville, Tenn., and Florence, Ala.

He graduated from Coffee High School in Florence, Ala.,  attended Kodaikanal School, in Kodaikanal, India.  He graduated from the University of North Alabama as an honor graduate in R.O.T.C.  and received a Master of Science Degree from University of Southern California.

He is survived by his parents, Dr. Harold (Al) Henderson and Joanna McCammon Henderson, Florence, Ala.; two daughters,  Jeannette Marie Henderson, Lansing, Mich., and Joanne Renee Henderson, Grand Rapids, Mich.; a son: Joshua McCammon Henderson, Ann Arbor, Mich.;  the mother of his children:  Jane D. Henderson, Oscoda, Mich.; and a sister, Elizabeth H. Harwell (B. James), Auburn, Ala.

Jim had a love for the outdoors, traveling and singing, but his true live was helping people.  He died doing two things he loved most—helping someone and flying a plane.  As a Christian, one of his favorite Bible verses was John 3:16.

Memorial services were held  Monday, Aug. 27, at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God, 777 E. 7th St., Powell. A second memorial will be Tuesday, Aug.  28 at the Champion Ferries Funeral Home, South Chapel, in Sheridan.  The burial, with full military honors, will be at the McCammon Cemetery, Inc.; Knox County, Tenn.

Memorial Donations may be made to Wyoming Wing Civil Air Patrol, P.O. Box 9507, Cheyenne, WY 82003-9507; Angel Flight West; Attention:  Nichole Tyerman; 3161 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, CA 90409; or Wycliffe Bible Translators; P.O. Box 628200; Orlando, FL 32862