Dr. Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt Jamison, Jr. was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri May 29th, 1933 and entered the Lords paradise October 22, 2024. He married his faithful wife Judith Darlene Dausel, April 29, 1961 at Sioux City, Iowa. His parents, Ted and Violet Jamison were well known citizens of Saint Joseph in the early decades of the twentieth century. Ted Sr. was a Rocky Mountain Middleweight Champion prizefighter while working at the Drag X Ranch in Colorado and contended more fights when relocating to Saint Joseph, Missouri. He served Saint Joseph as City Councilman in the 1940’s and worked at the Anchor Serum Company for twenty years as plant superintendent until 1947. Violet Jamison received her teaching certificate from Northwest Missouri State College and rode her horse every day to teach her students in a rural country school, played the piano at the silent movie theater, and became Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Dr. Ted Jamison first attended Hall and Bliss Public Schools in Saint Joseph and graduated high school from the Wentworth Military Academy in 1951. He enlisted in the United States Air Force serving as a bomb loader during the Korean War in 1952. Following his separation from service, he worked for Philips Roxane as a salesman for veterinary pharmaceuticals. He attended Northwest Missouri State College and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 1964 while his wife supported him as Secretary to the Dean of Men. His beloved Judi remained at his side while he pursued a Masters of Arts Degree in European History at Wichita State University. He began his college teaching career in 1966. Dr. Jamison received a full fellowship from Texas Christian University to complete his Ph.D. in British History in 1972. Three years later, he published his doctoral dissertation on the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. In 1977, he proudly accepted a direct commission and appointment of Major in the United States Army as Adjutant to the General.
Dr. Jamison taught at Westmar College and during a 1969 summer session instructed a sixty-nine day European History course for twenty-one students while traveling through thirteen European countries. While in Italy Dr. and Mrs. Jamison had an audience with Pope John VI at his summer residence Papal Palace Castel Gandolfo. He also taught at San Antonio College, Southwest Texas State University, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Bellevue University, and Del Mar College. For nearly ten years of his professional career, he was historian for the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base at Omaha, Nebraska where he wrote additional publications about Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Dr. Jamison also published several scholarly articles regarding the Korean War and wrote a biography of the poet and World War I soldier, Sgt. Joyce Kilmer who wrote the well known poem “Trees”.
He followed in his father’s footsteps after returning to Saint Joseph in 2001 through his activities in city politics, and was noteworthy and successful in assisting Mayor Ken Shearin to office in 2006. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Moila, Military Officers Association of America, Missouri Masonic High Twelve, American Legion, American Aviation Historical Society, The Vice Presidents Club, Blue Key National Honor Society, and Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society.
Dr. and Mrs. Jamison were avid anglers for fresh water bass and crappie in the local lakes, farm ponds and river catfish. He and his wife Judi loved deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico catching kingfish, snapper, red fish, speckled trout, sheepshead, and flounder and always enjoyed eating their catch. They also hunted deer in Wyoming and Utah and caught trout in the mountain streams.
Dr. Jamison was preceded in death by his parents Ted and Violet Jamison and his sister, Nancy Monachino. Surviving members of his family include: wife Judith Jamison, son Christopher Jamison (Nicole), and daughter Heidi Dennis (Jonathon). Grandchildren: Marty (Katie), Amethyst (John), and MacKenzie Jamison; Aaron, Cameron (Shania), Brandon (Rhiannon), and Tristan Rayevich (Chloe); great-grandson Oliver Jamison and great-granddaughter Evie Rayevich.
Instead of flowers please give a contribution to Saint Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital, the Shriner’s Hospital for Children or local food pantry.
Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1:00 P.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Entombment Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service for refreshments.
