Jim was born the son of the late James R. "J.R." and Florence "Toots" Kelly Cushing. He was raised and educated in Mazon and farmed in Mazon Township for more than 35 years. Jim was a Veteran of the United States Army and proudly served as a Private 1st Class in the 1st Battalion of the 72nd Armor in Korea during the Vietnam Conflict. He was honorably discharged on July 20, 1971 after sustaining injuries in the course of duty and enlisted into the United States Army Reserves until the fulfillment of his obligation on December 15, 1975. Jim was the recipient of the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and four overseas bars. Jim was a member of the Gundy County Farm Bureau, formerly served as a board member with Mazon Farmer's Elevator and was a former Teamster. In his free time Jim enjoyed watching military documentaries and western movies.
Survivors include his wife Janice (nee Sorenson); one son James R. Cushing, IV of Romeoville; one daughter Renee Countryman and one grandson Riley Countryman, both of Howe, Texas; four sisters: JoAnn (Don) McCluckie of Aurora and Carol (Ed) Walker, Mary (Dennis) Punke and Janice Feltenz all of Mazon; one brother: John (Karen) Cushing of Glen Carbon, Illinois; nieces and nephews: Annette (Gary) Soris of Aurora, Brenda (George) Malina of Sugar Grove, Kathy Perry and Debbie Walker, both of Morris, Sandy (Chris) Kruegel of Plainfield, Jennifer (Ron) Anderson of Mazon, David (Christi) Punke of Morris, Michael Cushing and Kevin Cushing, both of Glen Carbon, Adam Greenan and Alan Greenan, both of Mazon and Amy (Jimmy) Zemek of Troy, Missouri; great nieces and great nephews: Brandon, Christopher, Shawn and Kalie Soris, Matt, Tim, Jake and Jeff Perry, George and Collin Malina, Ryan, Emily and Nathan Kruegel, Patrick and Scott Anderson, Jacie, Mara and Ashlyn Punke, Austin VanAmburgh, Siera and Saige Zemek and Devon Greenan; three aunts: Millie Baskerville-Fleishman and Marguerite Anderson, both of Coal City and Florence Kennedy of Braceville; one uncle Ed Kelly of Joliet and numerous cousins and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and one brother in infancy.