James Michael Galloway

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James Michael Galloway, fondly known as “Jim” or “Jimmy,” passed away on December 29th, 2021, three hours shy of his 66th birthday. Jim was born in Washington D.C. on December 30th, 1955, the first of four children to Gordon W.L. Galloway and the late Martha E. (Hitch) Galloway; they often referred to him as “the best tax break they ever had.”  His formative years were spent living in San Pedro, Bakersfield, and Dallas, before eventually graduating from San Marino High School in 1974. After high school, he spent time on the Glomar Challenger, a research vessel, as a cook. He visited over 17 countries and 3 continents. After his explorations, he entered the University of Southern California where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in 1981. He then began a dedicated career as a geologist working for the U.S. Geological Survey and the Minerals Management Service.

Being the eldest sibling was a dubious task, but he was up to the challenge and teased his siblings Karen, Katey, and John with silly pranks. His hobbies included being a tournament worthy chess player, a Beatles and Paul McCartney mega-fan, self-taught cook, all things Trekkie, a voracious reader, and a lifelong learner. He was often referred to as a walking, talking encyclopedia and family and friends knew not to ask a question, unless they were prepared for one of his long lectures. His favorite subjects being Civil War, WWI and WWII History, Abraham Lincoln, chess, and Ventura County history.

While attending USC, Jim met his future wife and love of his life, Sarah Ann Mason, a fellow geology student. It was crystal clear from the moment he met her in the Mineralogy lab, Sarah was a gem and despite all his faults he wouldn’t take her for granite. In 1983, shortly after graduating from college, Sarah and Jim were married at The Church of the River in Memphis, Tennessee. On November 13th, 2021, they celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary by winetasting, an activity they enjoyed over the years. 

James’ greatest accomplishment was his family. Jim was a proud and dedicated father of four wonderful children, Laura (1986), Gordon and Jessica (1989), and Emily (1993). In 1993, James and Sarah moved their family to Camarillo, CA. James became a proud 4th generation Ventura County resident (Hitches and Dailys). His ties to Ventura County ran through his mother, Martha (Hitch) Galloway who was raised in Moorpark and the descendent of two pioneering Ventura County families. She was the daughter of James Houston Hitch Sr. and Emma Mae (Daily) Hitch, apricot and citrus farmers. Her grandparents were Archibald and Mary Hitch, who settled in Moorpark in 1903, and Wendell Phillips Daily and Lenora Deutsch Daily of Camarillo. 

Jim committed much time to community service. He was an A.Y.S.O. coach and referee for all his children, Pony Baseball umpire and coach, a frequent school volunteer, and served as PTSA President of Bedford Open School. Jim was known by his children’s friends and teammates as a knowledgeable, fun, and caring coach. He often awarded bounties to his players and teams; Airheads for a header in soccer, Big League Chew for extra-base hits and sunflower seeds for correct answers to his sports trivia questions in baseball, and In-N-Out burgers for a double/double in basketball. All were fun motivators for his players. When his children and nieces and nephews were young, Jim loved to tell them scary stories that he created, including “The Man with No Bones” and “The Witch of San Gabriel.” 

Jim spent over 20 years working as a geologist for the Minerals Management Service. He specialized in offshore oil reserves along the California coast. He passed his passion of earth sciences onto the local school children by organizing fossil hunting field trips to Ventura and teaching earthquake preparedness classes. Jim regularly carried a Slinky with him to demonstrate the difference between S and P waves.

James is survived by his wife, Sarah, of Camarillo, his father, Gordon Galloway of Pasadena, his four children Laura Caldwell (Marcum) of Camarillo, Gordon Galloway III (Suzannah) of Broomfield, Jessica Haney (Benjamin) of Yuba City, Emily Galloway of Boston, and five grandchildren, Caroline and Samuel Caldwell, Gordon IV and Callan Galloway, and Elliot Haney. Left with decades of fond and colorful memories are his three siblings, Karen Celone (Tom) of Reno, Katherine Wise (Brooks) of Nipomo, and John Galloway (Ginger) of Glendale. He is also survived by 9 nieces and nephews and 11 great-nieces and nephews. James cherished the love of those he was closest to, and they will feel his absence every day.

A memorial for James will be held on Saturday, June 25th at 2 p.m. at the Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo. Here is a link to the website: https://www.conejomountain.com/tributes/James-Galloway  In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to donate in his memory to the USC Earth Sciences Undergraduate Student Summer Field Camp and Research Fund at https://dornsife.usc.edu/earth/giving/ or any fund supporting Youth Sports Development. 

- The Lord’s Prayer -

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever.  Amen.

...Family in the care of Erin Arteaga, Funeral Director