Lawrence James "Jim" Roach, Jr.

Lawrence James "Jim" Roach, Jr was born September 4, 1942, to Lawrence James Sr and Aurelia Rose nee Grandcolas in Belleville, IL.  He was the youngest of 4 children and the only boy in the family. He had 3 sisters who have proceeded him death, Aurelia (George), Myra (Jack), and Delores (Ed). He played baseball and the accordion as a boy and tried out for the baseball team, where he made the team as a freshman entering CBC High School on a full academic scholarship for music. He was attending school with Mike Shannon and Dickie (Stan the Man’s son) Musial who were juniors, at the time. Unfortunately, he had to drop from the baseball team because he was having difficulty making practice and keeping up with his music.  

He met Sharon Burch while cruising at Chuck a Burger and they were married in 1963.  They had two children, Jennifer Ann (Gale) and Lawrence James III (Dannielle). 

He worked in the grocery business until 1983 when he made a major career shift to IT and ultimately ended up working for General American Life Insurance which later became Metropolitan Life where he stayed until he retired in 2009. 

Jim and Sharon enjoyed spoiling their four grandchildren, Amanda Ann, Nicholas Monroe (Tamlyn Marie), Isabelle Claire, and Mason Alexander. They took many trips together and had a great time hanging out together.

Sharon passed away in 2009 and Jim filled the void that she left by immediately buying his first Corvette.  He started talking on the phone regularly which was a big change, but he loved keeping in touch with his sisters, nieces, and nephews. His daughter got a chance to become friends with him through their daily drives home from work where he would listen to her day, or he would share his adventures.  He purchased a condominium at the Lake of Ozarks and began making many new friends including his dear friends Ron and Brenda Keller, Nichole Kirby, Danny Kirby, and many others at the Isla de Sol where he was affectionately called Corvette Jim. He loved to bass and crappie fish and hang out on the screened porch with his son enjoying life.

Most of us just called him Pop and we adored him but none more so than his great granddaughter, Reagan May who was the apple of his eye and the root of most of his passwords. Pop was always laughing and smiling.  He told his daughter recently that he thought the lord was keeping him alive so that he could help others.  He was generous and deeply religious. He will be terribly missed.

 Memorials may be made in Lawrence's name to Holy Spirit Catholic Church and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.