James (J.C.) Gregory 88 of Mission, Kansas passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 22, 2008. He was born August 18, 1920 to James Custer and Elsie Ina (Terry) Gregory in Albany, Missouri. When he was young the family moved to Maryville, Missouri where he graduated from College High in 1938 and attended Northwest Missouri State. J.C. was united in marriage to Carol Lee Arney on January 24, 1943 in Maryville and began his career as a template maker in the old American Royal buillding making gliders for the government during the war. After serving in the Army Air Corp toward the end of the war, he returned to Kansas City and worked as a drafting teacher for the National Trade School. After working for W.E. Fry and Co. as a manufacturer's representative, he co-purchased the business and created American Industrial Tool Company serving as its president from 1953 until he retired in 1985. James was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and a daughter-in-law. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carol; two sons, James Gregory and Terry (Debbie) Gregory; daughter, Vicki (Joe) Kerkvliet; Sister, Wilma Paxton; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. James was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Mission, Kansas, American Legion and AOPA. He loved his family, golfing, fishing and flying his airplane.