James E. Pearson

December 12, 1939 - May 19, 2017

James "Jim" Pearson, sculptor, artist and educator, age 77, of Ringwood, IL, passed away Friday, May 19, 2017 at Alden Terrace Care Center in McHenry, IL. A lifetime resident of McHenry County, he was born in Woodstock, Illinois on December 12, 1939, a son of the late John and Arline (Harrison) Pearson. A graduate of McHenry High School, he obtained his masters degree in education and also fine arts at NIU in Dekalb. He was an art teacher at Woodstock High School for 33 years retiring in 1993. He was also an art instructor at McHenry County College for several years. He was a life member of the Illinois Teachers Assoc. and a life member of the McHenry County Retired Teachers Assoc. He was instrumental in restoring the ceiling paintings of St. John's Catholic Church in Johnsburg, IL. He was a life member of McHenry County Historical Society, a life member of the Woodstock Fine Arts Assoc and was involved in the preservation of the Woodstock Square. He was in charge of Ringwood Cemetery for over 25 years. He also served as cartoonist for the Woodstock Independent for many years. Jim loved to travel all over the world and take pictures of art museums. James is survived by a brother, John (Bernice) Pearson, of Wichita, KS and a niece Kathryn Marie Pearson. He was preceded by his parents and a niece Elizabeth Ann Pearson. Graveside inurnment will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 2017 at Ringwood Cemetery in Ringwood, IL.