Obituary of James J. Gleason

James Joseph Gleason Allegany, NY James J. Gleason passed away March 18, 2025 at Absolut Care of Allegany. Born September 30, 1937 in Olean, Jim was the middle child of James and Anita (Hogan) Gleason of Allegany and graduated from Allegany High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and as an FBI fingerprint clerk before attending the Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, graduating in 1959. After a funeral directing apprenticeship in Brooklyn and Queens he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He maintained a vigilant watch as a communications specialist during the Cuban Missile Crisis, honorably discharged in 1964. Jim went on to a career in security and law enforcement. During the late 1970s he was the chief of police and a deputy county sheriff in Wayne, WV. He worked as a security guard in Florida, Nevada, and California before returning home. After struggling with alcoholism, he was proud to spend the last four decades of his life sober. In recent years he dealt in antiques and collectibles and was a regular at area flea markets. Jim was a generous friend, a lifelong Democrat, a fighter of fascists, and a faithful chronicler of the Gleason and Hogan family histories. He was predeceased by his parents, his older brother Martin, and his younger sister Kathleen. He is survived by five nieces, two nephews, and a host of friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday (April 5, 2024) from 11am to 1pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd., Olean. A funeral service will begin at 1pm in the funeral home. Pastor Chris Emminger will officiate. The Allegany American Legion Ritual Team will accord military honors at the start of the service. Burial will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany. Memorials may be made to Operation Homefront, as national military family support organization, operationhomefront.org or 17319 San Pedro Ave., Suite 505, San Antonio, TX 78232.