James “Jim” Whitmire

Whitmire

James “Jim” Edward Whitmire, 79, of Millsap, passed away on Aug. 8, 2023, at his home.
James worked with Tandy Leather Company for 34 years, retiring as president of the company in 1996. He later worked with his daughter for 10 years at Centre for Neuro Skills in Irving. He loved spending time on his small hobby farm and was a voracious reader who enjoyed his library, treasured his books and watched “A Christmas Carol” year round. He adored his family and could always find an opportunity to make a long story longer.
James was born in Houston, Oct. 4, 1943, and his younger years were spent in Cold Springs before moving to Wise County, where he attended school and worked as a cowboy on a 3,000-acre cattle ranch. Here, he learned leathercraft and enjoyed making gifts and items to sell before eventually going to work for Tandy.
James is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mildred Rudd Whitmire. The childhood sweethearts met in sixth grade in Slidell, and went on to be two of the eleven in their graduating class. They married in 1962 and spent every day since then taking care of each other.
James leaves a son, Jeff Whitmire and wife, Marcy; grandson, Michael James Whitmire of Pilot Point; daughter, Sandra Whitmire Davis and husband, Chuck; grandchildren, Megan Ann Davis and Ian Andrew Davis of Fort Worth; siblings, Jack Wayne Whitmire and wife, JoAnne, of Austin, Vina Mae Remorenko and husband, Randy, of Valley View, Sammie Lee Whitmire and wife, Sofia, of Sanger, and Ross Blake Whitmire and wife, Linda, of Fentress. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilson Easby Whitmire II and Mary Jane Whitmire of Slidell and brother, Wilson Easby Whitmire III. The family recognizes James’ special friends: Dennis Miller, Mike Baker, and Randy Remorenko, and the extraordinary relationship James had with his grandson, Michael.
A celebration in James’ honor will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the Brock Community Center.