James Steven Misa, Jr., Gunnery Sergeant

GySgt James Steven Misa, Jr., USMC (Ret.), The man. The myth. The legend. Jimmy (aka, Jim, Uncle Jimmy, Daddy, Brother, Son, Gunny, Chunks) entered eternal life on July 31, 2021. His spirit is carried on by his three daughters Lilly, Evelyn, and Vivian Misa; his mother Genevieve Misa; two siblings Erin Wright and Elizabeth Misa, extended family and friends, and his Marine brothers and sisters. Jimmy was predeceased by his father, Jim Misa, and has joined him in heaven for a cold beer. Jimmy was one of a kind, and there will never be another. Jimmy was a hero, a warrior, a Viking, a girl dad, a comedian, a leader, and a friend. Jimmy also had the best hair in the family, and he wasn’t afraid to flaunt it. In his spare time, Jimmy enjoyed bar crawls, frequenting tattoo parlors, and hanging with his boy Blue. Jimmy’s greatest joy in life was being a father to his three beautiful girls. Jim’s face would beam with pride and happiness whenever he was with his daughters. Some favorite memories from Lilly include daddy and daughter dates at Dave and Busters, dance recitals (and daddy bringing flowers), riding four-wheelers (even though they would get stuck in the mud), shooting guns, and having make-up and fingernail parties. Favorite moments from Evelyn include trips to The Lost Pearl Pirate Ship, going to the Grand Palm to feed the animals, watching Boss Baby, getting ice cream, swimming, and having dance parties. Vivian loved getting her nails and make-up done with her daddy too. She said, “He was a great girl dad, even though he was a tough Marine.”

Jimmy would often play “soldier” in the backyard and knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a Marine. After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps and served his country for over 16 years, rising to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. As an infantry unit leader, Jimmy epitomized technical and tactical proficiency on several combat deployments, earning the respect of both his commanders and those entrusted under his charge. Upon hearing the sad news, Marines with whom he served over the years quickly mobilized to assist the family. This outpouring of support is testimony to the admiration and affection he enjoyed and gratefully cherished, from his Marines. Jimmy was a devoted son, brother, cousin, uncle, and friend to so many. There are countless stories of Jimmy’s dedication to his friends and family. If you needed anything, Jimmy would be there. If you needed to laugh or cry, Jimmy was the guy. If you needed a place to stay, you called Jimmy. He would give you the shirt off of his back. He would check on you if you weren’t okay. He would make you laugh uncontrollably. He would show up unexpectedly. Jimmy wanted a Viking funeral but we couldn’t pull it off.