James W. Carney

James W. Carney – 76

Died Sunday November 11th at his home after an 8 week battle with cancer.
He was born April 21st, 1936 in East Grand Forks, Minnesota to the late Wallace and Lillian Carney. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Amy Westrem Carney and their children; Tim Carney (wife Sue) of Creve Coeur Missouri, Beth Carroll (husband Dennis) of West Lafayette, and Heidi Dugan (husband Dave) of Carmel, Indiana; four grandchildren, Dennis and Briget Carroll and Max and Riley Dugan; two brothers; Peter Carney (wife Karen) of Eagan Minnesota and Jack Carney (wife Bernie) of Grand Forks North Dakota.

Jim grew up in East Grand Forks, where he attended Sacred Heart Elementary school. He graduated from East Grand Forks Central High school in 1954. He attended college at the University of North Dakota where he was a Beta Theta Pi fraternity brother and played for the football team his freshman year. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UND in 1958. After graduation he went to work for the J.C.Penney Company. His career with J.C. Penney spanned 38 years and moved Jim and his family across the midwest starting in Grand Forks, North Dakota, then to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brainerd, Minnesota, Springfield, Illinois, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and finally Lafayette, Indiana where he managed the JCPenney store in Tippecanoe Mall from 1978-1996.

Jim was the J.C. Penney Government Coordinator for the state of Indiana. He served on many boards and committees in the Lafayette community including President of the Board of Junior Achievement, Chairman of the Indiana Retail Council, Home Hospital Board, Greater Lafayette Progress, United Way, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Family Services of Lafayette and Huntington Bank. He was a member of the John Purdue Club, The Elks, The Rotary and The American Legion Post 11. Jim received the Sagamore of the Wabash award from Governor Bayh in 1996. He was a partner in Carney-Gibson Properties and part owner of b.caryl, a ladies retail clothing store in West Lafayette.

A private family Mass is planned. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Blessed Sacrament Church in West Lafayette where Jim had been a parishioner since 1978. Soller-Baker West Lafayette Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.