A few months after celebrating his 95th Birthday, James Elmer Gow peacefully passed away in his sleep in his home of 53 years; his daughter Andrea was living with him. James was born to Millard and Margaret Lacey Gow in 1923 in Endicott, where he lived his entire life. He played football and golf for Union-Endicott high school. James grew up with his younger brother Bob, who now lives in Vermont at the age of 92. James attended Hamilton College before hopping on a boat to France where he landed on the beaches of Normandy to fight in World War II. After restoring order to the world, James went to Cornell Law School where he met his wife of 64 years, Jean, now deceased. Together they had two daughters, Andrea and Diane, now deceased, who grew up in Endwell. James soon partnered with Ken Leasure to start their own law practice in Endicott, which still exists today on Jefferson Avenue. James was a member of the Endwell Rotary Club and a Charter Member of Northminster Church in Endwell. One of his self-appointed duties at the church included mowing the lawn into his mid-80s. He was a long-standing member of the Binghamton Country Club and enjoyed golfing well into his late lawn-mowing days. Over the summers, James and Jean enjoyed vacationing in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with their children. As they became older, Andrea’s sons Dave and Rob joined the trip, followed by Andrea’s late husband Peter and his children Rachel and Eric Patten. James enjoyed visits by his brother Bob, along with Bob’s daughter Mary, her late husband Steve, and her daughters Lizzy and Emily. He also looked forward to visits and the weekly call from his nephew, John Griffin, a retired lawyer living in Austin, Texas.
The family invites friends to join us for a Memorial Service at Northminster Church on Hooper Road, Endwell, Friday, November 30th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Northminster Church, Family Planning, or Meals on Wheels.