James E. McCray

James Elwin McCray passed away on March 3, 2024, at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, following a period of declining health. He will be remembered as a loving and supportive father and husband, as well as an influential music professor, administrator of college departments of music, a passionate choral conductor, and a prolific composer. James was born February 27, 1938, in Kankakee, Illinois, to Elwin Lawrence and Grace Williams McCray. He received degrees from Illinois Wesleyan and Southern Illinois University and earned a Ph.D. in Music from the University of Iowa. Before he arrived in Fort Collins, he was a member of the music faculty of the University of South Florida in Tampa, and Chairman of the music departments at Longwood College, in Farmville, Virginia, and St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. From 1978 until 1988 he was the Chairman of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and retired as Professor Emeritus of Music. James was a well-known composer, having written and published over one hundred choral compositions that were nationally popular in vocal ensembles in public schools, churches, and universities—many of them commissioned by distinguished organizations. An outstanding teacher, he received the Professor of the Year Award from the honor societies of two different universities, was awarded the Mellon Prize for distinguished contributions to scholarship, and was recognized for excellence in teaching by the Colorado State Alumni Board. An active church musician during his career, he served both Protestant and Catholic churches for decades, developing extensive, lauded programs. Additionally, he conducted Laudamus, a civic choral ensemble, and authored three books, numerous professional articles, and for forty-one years wrote a monthly column in the international organ journal, The Diapason. As a university administrator, James was a dynamic and efficient leader who planned for the future and found innovative solutions to the changing climate of higher education. An eternal optimist, James was never stymied. He was a strong and vigorous advocate for his department and a fount of ideas for broadening his department’s reputation. A particular asset of his leadership and community building was his continuing success at hosting distinguished musicians, scholars, and composers from around the country to interact with his students, and his frequent, and gracious, entertaining of the Fort Collins choral community at his home. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Campbell, and his children by his previous wife, Chris: son Matthew McCray of Los Angeles and daughter Kelly McCray of Tampa; and step-children Emily Lefler of San Diego, Bradley Lefler of Los Angeles, and predeceased by his stepson, Scott Lefler. James enjoyed regular summer vacations with his family, which included the beaches of Sarasota, stops at Disney World, countries across Europe, and, in retirement, relaxing at the part-time home that he and Jo established in the Las Vegas area. He loved listening to jazz music, seeing theatre in Denver and London, having pizza and movie nights, sitting out on his patio with a scotch and soda—"cocktail time”—and giving gifts to those he loved. He will be missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life for James McCray will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, from 1-4pm at CB and Potts in Fort Collins. Family, friends, colleagues, and former students of James are invited to attend. Please RSVP through the Facebook event, “James McCray, a Celebration of Life.” Additional information about the event can be found online or through family members. In lieu of flowers, gifts in honor of James should be directed to the future James E. McCray Music Scholarship, which the family hopes to eventually endow, to support conducting students in the CSU Department of Music. Checks should be made payable to the Colorado State University Foundation, PO BOX 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522 or made online at advancing.colostate.edu/give.

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James E. McCray

February 27, 1938 - March 3, 2024