James George Dern

James George Dern, Jr., 66, of Independence Trail, Morganton, NC died Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Carolinas Medical Center. Born on May 7, 1943 in New York City, NY, he was the son of the late James George Dern and Caroline Wickett Dern. Jim served as a U.S. Army Ranger with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a graduate of the University of PA and received his MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago.Jim is survived by his wife, Doris Long Dern; a brother, George H. Dern of Delray Beach, FL; sisters, Caroline Dern Johnston of Vero Beach, FL and Mary Wickett Dern of Salt Lake City, UT; step-daughters, Lisa Cline and husband, Read, of Narragansett, RI and Julie Cline and husband, Stuart, of Albuquerque, NM; and grandchildren, Travis, Hunter, Rainy, and Sophia.Services will be announced at a later date.