James P. McNally
Died: October 05, 2007

   Jim McNally, a son of Ireland and long time resident of Ione, Washington, joined his beloved wife of forty years, Pat, on October 5, 2007.
   Born on August 3, 1924 in Dromod, County Leitrim, Ireland, Jim is survived by his brother, Jack McNally, of Dromod, Ireland and his children Jim, Jr., an assistant superintendent in the Everett School District, Mary, director of guest services at Northern Quest Casino near Spokane, Theresa, a manager for Symetra Financial Services in Bellevue, and Tom, an operations manager for Dunlap Maritime Towing in LaConner. Jim also is very proud of his six grandchildren.
   Jim spent his early years in New York City where his parents, Patrick and Mary McNally were temporarily employed. His family returned to Ireland after his eighth grade year where he completed his secondary education at St. Mels College (high school). During his high school years, Jim was a member of the All Ireland Football (Soccer) Team, which earned a national title.
   Upon graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served with the 82nd Airborne, 504 Division, during World War II. His tour of duty included service in Holland, France and Germany. It was during his service in Holland that a shell burst injuring his eye, an injury that plagued him through the remainder of his life.  He was in deep gratitude to the Lions Club for its support of subsequent corneal transplants.
   Jim and Pat married in 1949 shortly before his discharge from the army. Jim and Pat then moved to Spokane where he enrolled at Gonzaga University Law School. Attending classes at night, he was employed at Washington Trust Bank as the head of the real estate department. Upon graduation from law school and admission to the Bar, Jim and his young family moved to Ione in 1956 to practice law with Lloyd Ek. Jim took on much of the local legal work while Mr. Ek focused on the work surrounding the opening of Box Canyon Dam.
   In 1959, Jim was asked to serve as the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney assisting Jay Roy Jones. He served in this capacity until 1962 at which time he succeeded Mr. Jones as the Prosecuting Attorney. Jim served in this capacity until his retirement in 1984.
   During this same time, Jim served as legal council for PUD No. 1 from 1968 to 1991, attorney for the Port of Pend Oreille, city attorney for Ione, Metaline, Metaline Falls and Cusick, and attorney for the Selkirk School District. The McNally Hall of Justice was named for him in 1996. Jim continued to practice law until his recent decline in his health.
   Jim once described that his mother was Ireland and his wife was Pend Oreille County. He maintained close ties with many family members and friends in Ireland and was firmly rooted in Ione and cherished his friendships with the Ione and Pend Oreille County community. He was an active member of the North Pend Oreille Lions Club, St. Bernard's Catholic Church and a variety of other community service groups over the years.
   A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Ione at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 12 followed by his internment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane at 3:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 13 at Selkirk High School.
   Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the North Pend Oreille Lions Club or to the James and Patricia McNally Memorial Fund.

[courtesy of Jerry Botner]

Grave marker for James P. McNally in Plot F-216-3/1, Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane (Spokane county), Washington.

James registered for the draft in Washington, DC on 10 December 1943.  His draft record reflects his discharge date of 31 May 1946 and was apparently updated after that occurred.

Cpl McNally was discharged at the Separation Center, Fort Bragg, NC on 31 May 1946

Although his grave marker and obituary refers to his service with the 505th, he did serve with the 508th in Frankfort as he stated within a news article published on 16 March 1950.  In it, he and Patrick McBreen stated they signed up at Southampton with the United States 508th parachute regiment for service with occupation forces in Frankfort, Germany.  See photo of him in uniform with 508th shoulder patch.