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Memorial Keepers(1)
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James Family
Johnny James
October 28th, 1952 - August 13th, 2021
October 28th, 1952 - August 13th, 2021
UPDATE #2: A Zoom link and password are provided there for those who wish to log on and stream the Celebration of Life. Please click the "Events" link above to see the updated information.
UPDATE: Please click the "Events" link above to see information about the celebration of Johnny's life. More information to come.
Johnny Jay James of San Marcos, Texas, passed away on the morning of Friday, August 13, 2021 at the age of 68. Born in Brownsville, Texas, he enjoyed a childhood of adventure, outdoors, hunting, fishing and surfing. He served in the army and would go on to earn his degree in Wildlife Biology at Texas State University. He was a pillar of his community, serving the city of San Marcos as part of the police force, climbing the ranks along the way, including holding positions as respectable as assistant police chief, and being interim police chief at one point. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 41 years, Gay James; his son, Alan James, Alan's daughters, Teresa and Elizabeth, whom he adored, and their mother Madison James; and his precious daughter, Carly James, who was the light in his life and partner in crime. He is also survived by his sister Jeanette Isenhour and her husband William; sister Janice James; and his brother Jerry James and Jerry's wife Melani, along with countless other family members and friends, including his best friend since the third grade, Mike Goode. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Clyde James, and his brother Jimmy James. Anyone who met Johnny knows he never met a stranger. Johnny's kind, giving, and caring soul touched many lives while he was here with us. He was a man who would help anyone in need, had countless friends, and held his family close to his heart and in the highest regard. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. During this difficult time, the James family would love nothing more than to gather as many memories, stories, and pictures as possible. Please leave your favorite Johnny memory (or memories, the more the better) and any photos. Though Johnny had been fighting for several months, his passing came somewhat quickly, remembering him and learning about him through stories, as well as seeing pictures would be deeply appreciated at this time. If you feel so inclined to do something in honor of Johnny, in lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, Habitat for Humanity, or the Hays-Caldwell Women's Center.
Events
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Tributes
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Angela Miller
Gay, I was JUST looking you up online to see if I could connect with your family. I don't know if you remember me (you've had a lot of students, and I was one of them.) I am truly sorry to read of your recent loss. You were always one of my fav professors and I enjoyed getting to know Jonny and your daughter as well. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to touch base. I am thinking of and praying for you Gay...
Laura Moorer
What I loved about Jonny James He never failed to give a big smile. He gave the best hugs which seemed to fill his soul. He derived much pleasure from doing for others and he would help anyone who needed it. He would strike up a conversation with people he met just to brighten their day. He loved a great joke giving his large laugh and to tease with a twinkle in his eye. He was an expert at solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles. He had a wealth of knowledge on all kinds of subjects – plants, animals and even bugs. And if he didn’t know, he would figure it out. He was always reading and learning. He made beautiful creations with materials he found at the recycling center that he often roamed. He was an observer of nature – deer in the blind, humming birds feeding, and animals on the night camera. And most of all, he was a loving husband, supportive father, doting grandfather, caring brother and true friend. He is missed by many and my heart goes out to his family and many friends of which I am honored to have been one. God has welcomed home an angel.
Courtney Jordan Landsbaum
I babysat for the James family during the early nineties when Chance was about 8 and Carly was about 2. One night I was sitting with just Carly and after playing and a bath it was time for bed. She was not having it, she just kept saying "I WANT MY DADDY!". I rocked her and kept promising her that her daddy would be there in the morning when she woke up.
Connie Gutierrez
Johnny your footprints will forever remain in the sand for all your good doings and our hearts will soar for the rich memories you left us with. Carly and family I am so sorry for your loss. I would’ve been at your dad’s services except I was with my dad; helping him as we just lost my mom. It must’ve been kismet that we your dad and i recently bumped into each other at Sam’s…we got to catch up…he loved his family so much…always talked about y'all and he would light up! hugs and prayers to all of you
Kathleen Waldrup
In 1977, I was working for the ambulance service in San Marcos when I met Johnny. I was dating Mike Waldrup another SMPD officer who was Johnny's roommate. In 1978, JJ was best man at our wedding in Fort Worth. There was 9" of snow on the ground and we all barely made it there. Mike and Johnny worked well together and were always telling stories. I had already known Gay from Wimberley. It is difficult being married to a law enforcement officer with the uncertain hours and the danger. JJ and Gay were one of the few law enforcement couples we had known who stayed married. I have no doubt that Mike and JJ are telling stories and catching up on kids and grandkids in heaven. I mourn these two men and pray for Gay and the family. Hang on to those good memories till we are with them again.
Logan Rodgers
Johnny went by Mr. James to me during my time with him. Growing up, Mr. James was a mentor to me. He and Gay lived on the corner of our street in Denton. Around the age of 10, Mr. James took me under his wing, employing me to accompany him on any project he would go to. For the next 8 years, I helped him paint, install light fixtures, and haul furniture among other various tasks. The most notable job happened to be the first task that I ever accompanied him on. At 10, during the summer, Mr. James called my parents and asked if I would want to help him restore a patio for a widow on the South side of Denton. Seeing this as my first opportunity to make some money, I blindly accepted the job without knowing what was in store for me. For the next week, Mr. James had me chip mortar off of 500+ bricks and restore them to their original condition in the Texas heat, while he would re-lay them and level the dirt. This job took 40+ hours of work and (to this day) was one of the most grueling projects I have ever encountered. So grueling, in fact, that my goal from that day forward was to earn a job where I could use my brain for a living instead of manual labor. As I reflect on this particular memory with Mr. James, I think that there is a real symbolism to what was happening during that job and the various other jobs that he let me accompany him on. Like the bricks I was chiseling on the project, Mr. James was methodically shaping and forming me as well. With each project he took me on, he not only taught me hard work ethic, but he taught me compassion. For me, it was not about the money or the job even. Each job I took with Mr. James was an opportunity to learn from him, to be mentored by him. It was the moments when he would make a stranger laugh with his jokes in a Metzlers barbecue for lunch, or how he could strike up a conversation with anyone and make them smile with a simple complement. Mr. James taught me so much during my youth and had a pivotal role in shaping me as a man. I was thankful to have known him as a friend and mentor, and have already let my wife know of my plans to help the kids in our neighborhood one day, just like Mr. James helped me.
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