James Elmer White, Jr.
October 9, 1920
July 6, 2013
A memorial celebration of the life of James Elmer White, Jr. will be held on Monday, July 22, at 9:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church, Marfa, Texas. Saturday, July 6, 2013, was his last day missing Jane, his wife of 64 years who died April 3, 2010. Their children are Hester Ann White of Marfa, James E. White and Karen Bailey White of Marfa, Beauregard Brite White and Kathleen Hartnett White of Rosanky, and Edward McMinn White and Julie Bryan White of Marfa. Grandchildren are James Morgan Tyler and Candice Rush Tyler, Robert Brite Tyler, Beauregard McMinn Tyler, Marti Shea White Wright and Curtis Wright, Clint White, Raphael White Holland and Stacy Holland, James E. White IV and Holly Moore White. Great-grandchildren are Shea Wright, Seth Wright, and Harper Holland.
Jim White, Jr. was born October 9, 1920 in Del Rio, Texas, the second child of James E. White and Martha Hamilton. His sister Virginia Mae “Gene” White Frank Boland lives in Del Rio with her husband Bob Boland. His brothers Hamilton, Russell, and Tucker finished their races before Jim. Jim set out from Del Rio High School to enroll at Texas A&M, but was detained in Austin, where he attended the University of Texas and was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. A&M was an all-male institution at the time and young Jim liked pretty girls. In 1941, he, his father, and brothers bought ranches in southern Presidio County. At a watermelon party in Marfa, he met Jane Brite Dunkle, a student at The University of Texas. They married in Marfa on September 5, 1946.
Jim White was a cattleman, saying the secret to success was “Hereford cattle and gramma grass, along with a good family, lots of hard work, determination, and optimism.” He was an active member of the Highland Hereford Breeders Association, The National Cattlemen, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and the Texas Hereford Association. Jim and Jane raised both registered and commercial Herefords on their Presidio and Jeff Davis County ranches. In addition, Jim managed the Brite Ranch.
Jim was an outdoorsman and hunter, an astute observer of wildlife and the land. He gave time, energy, and insight to the Davis Mountains Trans Pecos Heritage Association and to the Texas Wildlife Association.
Jim was a faithful believer and supporter of the Christian Church. His intellectual interests were broad and deep, with special regard for history. He was thankful for his country, his family, and his trust in “Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”