March 2, 1932 – December 26, 2024
KILL DEVIL HILLS — James Lee “Jim” Feeney of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024 at the age of 92.
A proud husband and father, James is survived by his loving daughters Jane, Karen (Ed), Nancy (Tim), Mary (John), Maggie (Lauron), and Kellie (Travis); grandsons Daniel (Alyssa), Kevin (Amanda), Joe (Bea), Jack, Marc, Luke, and Johan; great-grandchildren Stephanie, Amanda, Robert, Donovan, Adam, Ava, and Charlotte; great-great-granddaughter Hailie; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mary Kathleen; son Thomas and granddaughter Katharine; parents John and Veiva; and siblings Jeanette, Louis, Sterlin, Jack, and Bob.
James was born on March 2, 1932 in Iowa City, Ia., and raised in Davenport. As a boy, he enjoyed going to the movies and playing in his neighborhood park with his brothers and friends. He held a variety of jobs in his youth—a shared paper route with his brother Bob, bowling alley pinsetter, candy maker (peanut brittle was his specialty), and pig belly shaver at Oscar Mayer, to name a few!
As a young man, he served in the Navy during the Korean War as an aviation electrician for fighter squadron 112 aboard the USS Kearsarge. In the mid-1950s, he began work as a GS-1 messenger at Rock Island Arsenal, where he would later be selected for a nascent computer programming division that would shape the course of his civil service career. After 30-plus years, he retired from the federal government in Washington, DC, as a computer analyst, followed by retirement after 10 years as a computer analyst for local government.
While working at Rock Island Arsenal, James met and married Mary Kathleen and started their family. After moving to the DC area, Hawaii, and back, they laid down roots in Northern Virginia, where he found joy in a variety of creative pursuits and simple pleasures—photography (he had his own darkroom!) and Super 8 videography, backyard birding, gardening, watching thunderstorms from his driveway, strumming his ukulele, creating graphics on his computer, crossword puzzling, and doting on his cats. He also completed his bachelor’s degree in general studies through USNY Regents College after attending St. Ambrose University and the University of Iowa in his twenties.
Above all, James cherished time spent with his family, sharing stories, cracking dad jokes, and pondering life. For these and many reasons, he will be sorely missed and forever in our hearts.
The family will receive friends and relatives for a visitation on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 6:00 until 7:30 pm, at Twiford Colony Chapel, Manteo. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 21, at Holy Trinity by the Sea Catholic Chapel, with a Catholic Rite of Committal to follow in Manteo Cemetery.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
