James Robert Morehead

James Robert Morehead, of Needham, was 92 when he went to be with the Lord on February, 27, 2025 in Newark, Delaware. He is survived by his daughter Peggy (David) of Colorado Springs, his son Mark (Deb) of Newark, DE, four grandchildren, and two great-grandsons. Jim was predeceased by his wife, Jean, of 67 years, in January 2022.

Jim was born in 1933, in Rochester, Minnesota. He spent his childhood in Owatonna, Minnesota. Jim met and married Jean Mitchell, while both attended Grinnell College in Iowa. Jim went on to earn his Masters degree at Williams College in Massachusetts.  After graduation, Jim and Jean and their young family served on the mission field in Turkey for three years. Upon their return, Jim received his Ph.D. in Human Anatomy from the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Over the next 30 years, Jim became a tenured Professor of Anatomy and Cellular Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. In addition, he was an Associate Dean of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Associate Dean of Curriculum Affairs.

Jim greatly enjoyed teaching first-year medical students. Each August, he memorized every name of the 100+ incoming students. His students appreciated the high quality of his instruction during lectures and in the gross anatomy lab. He made learning anatomical structures and their Latin/Greek terms both memorable and very interesting! His students gave him outstanding teaching awards year after year.

Jim and Jean lived in Needham, Massachusetts for 54 years. They were active members of the Carter United Methodist Church and led mission trips with church youth groups in the U.S. and abroad.

After retiring from Tufts Medical School, Jim and Jean volunteered for the next two decades with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and with the Welcome Home Initiative for veterans suffering from PTSD. They taught classes, offered counseling and encouragement to many people.

Over the years, Jim’s life was enriched and aided by the companionship of his hearing assistance dogs: Dory, Louise, and Sunshine, each from NEADS World Class Service Dogs of Princeton, Massachusetts.

As a child, his mother taught him to knit, to support the Red Cross “Knit Your Bit” program for WWII service men. Throughout his life, Jim continued to knit, making beautiful sweaters, afghans, and scarves. Most recently, he knitted 30+ scarves in support of the St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church outreach mission for seamen.

Also, Jim loved planting and tending flowers in his window boxes and all over his yard.

Jim was the sole caregiver to Jean in the last years of her life. He provided care with patience and devotion, all in isolation due to the COVID shutdown. 

The family would like to express their gratitude to all of the staff at The Vero / Juniper Village, in Newark, Delaware, for their warmth, care, and kindness to Jim over the past two years.

Services are private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating, in Jim Morehead’s name, to: The Welcome Home Initiative at www.ctkcenter.org or NEADS World Class Service Dogs at www.neads.org

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