April 1, 1951 – February 22, 2024
Seattle 24 — 1992
James “Jamey” Thomas McInally Jr. passed away at home in Garden Valley, ID February 22, 2024 at the age 72. He was surrounded by his children.
Jamey was born to James and Cecilia McInally in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 1, 1951. As a military family, the McInallys lived in several places throughout Jamey’s childhood. The stories repeated most often by Jamey came from their time at Wheelus Air Force base in Tripoli, Libya and Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy. When not stationed abroad, the McInallys kept a home in Manchester, New Hampshire where Jamey would run around causing mischief with his little brother David and their “cousin-brother” Pete Morin. Jamey graduated high school in 1969. Later that year he attended the infamous Woodstock Music Festival. Attending the Festival remained a point of pride for him throughout his life.
Jamey served in the United States Air Force from 1971-1975 in San Antonio, Texas. Jamey was mistakenly given two sets of enlistment orders. One was to repair cracks on the aircraft runways, and the second to become a medic. He decided to “lose” one of the sets of orders, and Jamey became an Airforce Medic. This would eventually lead to a career in medicine.
After leaving the Airforce, Jamey moved around a little bit, and eventually landed in Southern Idaho. He bunked on the dirt floor in the basement of Airforce buddy and lifelong best friend, Michael Day. He was said to have traveled to Idaho with nothing but a duffle bag, a guitar, and a great Dane named Garth.
Shortly after moving to Idaho, while working at the Twin Falls Clinic Hospital, Jamey met the love of his life, Elizabeth Ineck. They were married August 16, 1980 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caldwell, Idaho. Jamey and Elizabeth would both work in the medical field after they were married. Jamey went to nursing school and and worked as a registered nurse for several years before attending Physician’s Assistant school at the University of Washington.
During his time in Idaho, Jamey had fallen in love with the mountains. Because of this he and Elizabeth found their way to Boise County in the west central mountains of Idaho. First to Robie Creek, and eventually to Garden Valley.
From 1992-2000 Jamey ran the Garden Valley Medical Center. Jamey spent eight years being on call nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week as the primary medical provider in the valley. He quickly became a local celebrity do to his unconventional long hair, “mountain man “ beard and the fact that he wore jeans with his scrub tops. Jamey took pride in fulfilling the roll of a “small town doc” and strived to build relationships with his community. Notably, Jamey pioneered the annual Teddy Bear Clinic.For one day, children of the community were invited to bring in their stuffed animals into the clinic for checkups.Jamey and staff would pretend to preform medical procedures on the toys while taking the opportunity to perform wellness exams and administer vaccinations to the children of the community who might not have otherwise had access to routine medical care. The idea was so successful that annual Teddy Bear Clinics are now held all over Idaho.
While he enjoyed practicing family medicine in Garden Valley, Trauma was Jamey’s true medical passion. In 2000 Jamey joined a company that provided staffing of medical professionals for trauma centers and family practice clinics across Idaho. He cared for patients in many Emergency Rooms and Clinics throughout Idaho. He eventually settled at with Cascade Family Medical Center, where he practiced emergency and family medicine until his retirement in 2016.
Outside of his career in medicine, Jamey enjoyed several hobbies. In his younger days he enjoyed hang gliding and was on the pit crew of a stock car team. As a father, he loved to take his son hunting and play guitar with his daughter. He enjoyed camping and fishing. He made beautiful lodgepole furniture. Jamey loved to entertain family and friends and was proud of his “Irish” sense of humor.Once he and Elizabeth settled on their own property in Garden Valley, he planted a beautiful garden every spring. He truly lived a full and happy life.
Jamey is survived by his son Sean (Kasie) McInally, his daughter Katie (Justin) McInally-McCall, and his grandson Seamus (Sean and Kasie). His beloved wife Elizabeth preceded him in death by 15 days. Jamey is also preceded in death by his parents Jimmy and Cissy, and his younger brother David.
The funeral service will be held for Jamey and his wife Elizabeth at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian, Idaho on April 25, 2024 at 10:30 am. A reception will follow at the church reception hall.
Sean and Katie would like to extend a special thank you to Jessica Valasquez and Journeys Hospice. They helped to make Jamey’s final weeks as comfortable and full of joy as possible and provided essential support to Sean, Kasie, Katie, and Justin.