James Timothy Buckley, 84, died peacefully at Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City, MO on April 26, 2023. Born January 16, 1939 to John Thomas Buckley and Thelma Louise (Stevens) Buckley in Sedalia, MO, he and his brother were raised on the farm, north of Dresden. He attended Prairie Hill School, a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1956. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Benedictine College in 1960 and received a law degree from the University of Missouri in 1963. He returned to Sedalia where he joined the Brown & McCloskey law firm and later founded his own firm with Max Mitchell and his son Jim.
He earned a pilot’s license and served the Missouri Air National Guard in St. Joseph, MO. In 1972, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Miami, FL.
On December 27, 1965, he married Mary Jo (Jackson) and together they raised five sons, James Patrick Buckley (Sherry) of Sedalia; John Robert Buckley (Ana) of Eagle Pass, TX, Robert Jackson Buckley (Amy) of Columbia, MO; Brendan Connor Buckley (Mary) of Kansas City, MO; and Brian Thomas Buckley (Sara) of Bethesda, MD. He was the loving and dedicated grandfather “Papa” to Hope, Connor, Jack, Chloe’ Ryan, Ellie, Bobby, Sean, Brynn and Lyla.
For more than 55 years, the law was his jealous mistress. He prided himself as a country trial lawyer, handling cases throughout Missouri. He was well known and respected by his peers across the State. He was a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (Member-Board of Governors 1965-1980); American Board of Trial Advocates; Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. In addition, he was active in the community having served on several boards, including Sacred Heart Parish and the Center for Human Services, where he was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Jim married Mary Beth Bazin on April 18, 2009. In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is survived by his loyal brother, John Robert Buckley of Kansas City, MO, and stepsons, John Bazin of Renton, WA and Adam Pitney of Crafton, MD, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jo, his nephew John T. Jackson and his niece Amy Green.
Jim loved music of all eras and played saxophone in the New Horizon’s Community Band in Kansas City. “The Captain” had a zest for life few could ever match. His adventures were legendary. At a young age he developed a passion for sailing which he shared with his family and innumerable friends. His “winter home” was on a boat, somewhere in the Caribbean, with drink in hand, playing Jimmy Buffett and regaling his crew with tales befitting of an Irishman.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Sacred Heart School Foundation or Center for Human Services in care of the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements by McLaughlin Funeral Chapel, 519 S. Ohio, Sedalia 65301. A Rosary will be said at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (Sacred Heart Chapel) in Sedalia on Tuesday, May 2nd at 5:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church on Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.