James Murdock Vann, of Highlands Ranch, CO, forever joined his wife, Lee Stanton Vann in God’s Grace, on Saturday August 24, 2024, Jim began life in Badin, North Carolina, raised there and Hot Springs, Arkansas by mother, Florence Hughes Vann (Nonnie) and father, James Murdock Vann Sr. (Da).
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Lee, parents, sister, Jane (Sis), and son, Michael.
Jim attended Davidson College where he starred in track and field, throwing the discus. Later in life Jim continued tossing the discus in the Senior Games. After Davidson, Jim spent close to 30 years carving out an exemplary career with ALCOA. His time in sales with ALCOA was interrupted by an induction into the Army, where he taught bridge construction to cadets at West Point.
While managing an ALCOA plant in Vancouver Washington, Jim was introduced, by a family friend, to Lee Stanton. They were married in Oregon. Jim and Lee later moved to Perth, Australia where he headed ALCOA’s Mining and Operations, then to Fort Wayne, Indiana as President of an ALCOA subsidiary, Rea Magnet Wire Company.
In 1986, Jim along with 3 partners/friends purchased Rea Magnet Wire Company from ALCOA.
Jim and Lee also resided in Charlotte, NC and Highlands Ranch, CO.
Jim is survived by daughters Stephanie (Doug) Moen Castle Pines, CO, Sherry (Mike) Connolly Fort Wayne IN, Debbie Gilreath Wake Forest, NC, and son Jim (Dana) Vann Lafayette, IN. Also survived by 8 grandchildren Amanda, Whitney, Brody, Shane, Brian, Andrew, Jaimie, and Jimmy. And 13 great-grandchildren.
Jim lived a long productive and charitable life, touching, brightening, and enriching countless lives and organizations along his way. His memory and accomplishments survive, and he will be forever missed. Private burial to be held at a later date. The family requests memorial gifts, in the memory of James Vann and his life-long charitable works, be designated to research at Mayo Clinic.
Memorials can be made online at www.mayoclinic.org/development<https://www.mayoclinic.org/giving-to-mayo-clinic> or mailed to Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905.