James W. Yocum

SHIRLEY: James W. Yocum, 69, of Shirley, died Sunday, January 7, 2024, after a brave struggle with prostate cancer. Jim was born in Maquoketa, Iowa on October 14, 1954, son of Dudley E. and Virginia (Hardin) Yocum. He grew up working in his family’s Western Auto store. He was a graduate of Maquoketa High School and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Computer Science. Jim and Barbara, his wife of 37 years, resided in Shirley for more than 20 years. He was involved with his community, serving as a Registrar for the Town of Shirley, on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and driving for Meals on Wheels. He was a licensed private pilot, a longtime volunteer with the beagle-rescue group Beagles of New England States (BONES), and an avid woodworker. Throughout his career, Jim worked for several computer corporations in Minnesota and Massachusetts, including Control Data, Wang Laboratories, ComputerVision, and the Digital Equipment Corporation, retiring in 2003. He also shared his computer knowledge by teaching night classes at Boston University. Jim was well known in the area for his passion for cooking. After retiring from the computer industry, Jim took classes at the Culinary Institute of America, acquiring skills to be a chef. He then embarked on a twenty-year career in the culinary world, cooking professionally at several area restaurants such as the Herb Lyceum in Groton, Nancy’s Airfield Café in Stow, and the Marriott Event Center at Devens. He especially enjoyed teaching people about cooking, and hosted the local access TV show “Great Cooking at Home with Chef Jim Yocum.” In addition to his wife Barbara A. (Andersen) Yocum, Jim leaves his sister Mary Margaret (“Marg”) Nelson of Las Vegas, NV; in-laws Peter and Maureen Andersen of Dalton, MA, Foster Andersen of Santa Cruz, CA, and Carol (Andersen) Kaplan of Greeley, CO; nieces and nephews Sandy (Yocum) Scott and Mike Houdek, Kathleen (Yocum) and Kevin Michie, Kristin Yocum, Matthew Kaplan, Jessica Kaplan, and Riley, Liam and Brennan Andersen; his beloved beagle Freckles; and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Robert A. Yocum of Fort Collins, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SharedAdventures.org or BonesBeagles.org. Funeral services will be held privately. A celebration of life will take place in the spring. The Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Ayer is assisting the family with arrangements. www.andersonfuneral.com.

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James W. Yocum

October 14, 1954 - January 7, 2024