Obituary of James Charles McNutt

   On February 21, 2021, James Charles McNutt of Meadville, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully at the age of 86 of natural causes.  James was born to William and Mary Elizabeth McNutt in 1935. Marrying his sweetheart, Elizabeth Frances (“Fran”) Coyle in 1956, James was soon drafted twice into the Intelligence branch of the Army. He obtained a Ph.D. in Speech Pathology at Kent State University and upon moving to Montreal, Quebec in 1976 taught graduate students at McGill University until his retirement. Over his career, James was both a clinician and a master teacher and was especially proud of working for many years with the First Nations community providing speech therapy to Native children.  Jim was an expert outdoorsman, hunter, and angler, who loved good food and drink, books, music, and celebrations of all kinds. He was deeply dedicated to his family, and showed decency, kindness, and respect to all he met.  Upon Fran’s passing in 2013, Jim found new love with Shelley Conture and spent the rest of his life happily with her in Syracuse, New York.  James is survived by his sister Karen, children Beth and Nathan, partner Shelley, son and daughter-in-laws Sean and Ania, grandchildren Julianna and Cameron, nieces and nephews and their families, Shelley’s family, including her children and grandchildren, and countless others that he touched in his full and happy life.  He will be reunited with his late wife at the Elk Run Cemetery in Gaines, Pennsylvania.  For many years Jim sponsored  individual children in need through World Vision. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Jim's memory could do so at worldvision.org.