James E. Gorman II, age 85, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 2, 2016, at his home in Edwardsville, IL. 

He was born on November 9, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois; the son of the late James and Mae Catherine (Jiracek) Gorman. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Beverly Ann Gorman. They were married on October 1, 1960, at St. Mary's Church in Edwardsville, IL. He is survived by three sisters, Marcella Gorman, Virginia Schweinberg (late Donald),and Patricia Kruger (John). Sisters who preceded him in death include Rosemary Leach (Chuck Leach) and Jean Hughes (late Robert). 

He was a loving and caring father to three children and four step-children that includes Ann Elizabeth Gorman, James Edward Gorman III, Mary Ellen Gorman, John Gregory Mudge Jr., Stephen Clark Mudge, Robert Matthew Mudge and William Anthony Mudge. His seven grandchildren include John Ludwig Mudge, Taylor Lee Mudge, Lauren Bond Mudge, Jacob Bond Mudge, Jamie Gorman Skigen, Willem Gorman Skigen and Maggie Palmer-Gorman.

Jim attended Fenwick High School and graduated in 1948 and then St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, obtaining his B.A. degree in 1952. He continued on to earn his Juris Doctorate in 1955 at the University of Illinois, School of Law. Jim was a member of the International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1956. Jim served his country in the military with the U. S. Army Security Agency from 1955 – 1957. In 1959, after two years with the Heyl Royster firm of Peoria, Jim moved to Edwardsville. He entered into law practice with Burton Bernard and then in 1963 became a partner with Reed, Armstrong and Gorman. He retired in 2002, and joined the firm of Lucco, Brown and Mudge. He retired again in December 2015. During his 60 year legal career he was a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, a former President of the Madison County Bar Association, and a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He tried more than 450 jury trials.

His passions included his family, the law and sailing. His father nicknamed him "the duke," a man who looked out for his sisters and his family. He married Beverly, a widow with four young children. Only a man of remarkable character, or some might say questionable judgment, would do this. A devoted husband, he went on to raise three more children. He tried to lead his children to the right decision when they faced a fork in the road. He never spoke a negative word about anyone, ever.He competitively raced his sailboats at Lake Carlyle for four decades. After his death, a book was found in his reading chair and was open to a story titled "Happy Ending".The first sentence read, "Sailing is a participant sport, and only a sailor can fully understand the tremendous attachment that kindred spirits have for their boats and the water." 

Services have been held.