1938
James
2016
James C. Dunn
October 4, 1938 — December 9, 2016
James Curtis Dunn 78 died Friday Dec.9, 2016. He will be remembered by a host of friends and business associates throughout the valley.
He is survived by his daughter Debora Kay and her husband Jeremy Wade Reiley of Harlingen, grandson Hunter Wade Reiley, studying at Liberty University Lynchburg, Va. Also two sisters Joyce Carolee McBeth of Blooming Grove and Ada Betty and her husband Bryan Finley of Kerrville.
Nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews all considered Uncle James their special friend and confidant. Those include: Ken (Bonnie) Finley, Karen Finley Chesky, Lisa (Jim) Morrow, Curtis (Vickie) Finley, Vivian McBeth, Fletcher, Lowell, Travis and Clinton McBeth. Great nieces and nephews: Lauren Finley, Morgan Chesky, Caitlin Chesky, Taylor Finley and Megan Finley.
His parents, Joseph Curtis and Edith Cochran Dunn preceded him through Heaven’s gates as did his son John Mark Dunn.
Born Oct. 4 1938 in La Feria, his parents enrolled him at age 5 in a Christian school in Weslaco. He commuted by train from La Feria to Weslaco each day. The remainder of his schooling was in the La Feria public schools under the watchful eyes of his teachers and principals. They knew that wherever they found James at recess there was the activity of the moment. La Feria High School graduation lead straight to Howard Payne University. A degree in Business Administration followed.
Upon Graduation he entered the U.S. Naval Officers Candidate School. He graduated as an Ensign. He was assigned to the Naval Station in Hawaii. While stationed there he met Eugenie Rose Shelton from Tennessee, a teacher at the Hawaii Baptist Academy. They were married August 31, 1962.
Out of the Navy and back in the Valley he began his business career. His first love was matching shiny tuned-up cars with happy drivers. His office was a boat he had parked on a lot in Harlingen with naval flags flying from all corners of the lot. James Dunn Motors was open for business. His inventory soon outgrew his lot and it was onto a larger location, then another, and ultimately to Donna.
As a licensed Auctioneer, he kept many buyers spellbound waiting for this gavel to declare “SOLD”.
The Donna Texas Fiesta Flea Market with its long line of American flags unfurled in the wind was a natural development of his interests.
Visitation will be held at the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, 710 Ed Carey Dr. Harlingen, from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday December 16. Funeral service will be at First Baptist Church, Harlingen, Saturday Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. followed by interment at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International through the Harlingen or McAllen Gideon Camps, to Calvary Baptist Church McAllen, or to Howard Payne University School of Business, P.O. Box 2369 Brownwood, TX 76804.
He is survived by his daughter Debora Kay and her husband Jeremy Wade Reiley of Harlingen, grandson Hunter Wade Reiley, studying at Liberty University Lynchburg, Va. Also two sisters Joyce Carolee McBeth of Blooming Grove and Ada Betty and her husband Bryan Finley of Kerrville.
Nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews all considered Uncle James their special friend and confidant. Those include: Ken (Bonnie) Finley, Karen Finley Chesky, Lisa (Jim) Morrow, Curtis (Vickie) Finley, Vivian McBeth, Fletcher, Lowell, Travis and Clinton McBeth. Great nieces and nephews: Lauren Finley, Morgan Chesky, Caitlin Chesky, Taylor Finley and Megan Finley.
His parents, Joseph Curtis and Edith Cochran Dunn preceded him through Heaven’s gates as did his son John Mark Dunn.
Born Oct. 4 1938 in La Feria, his parents enrolled him at age 5 in a Christian school in Weslaco. He commuted by train from La Feria to Weslaco each day. The remainder of his schooling was in the La Feria public schools under the watchful eyes of his teachers and principals. They knew that wherever they found James at recess there was the activity of the moment. La Feria High School graduation lead straight to Howard Payne University. A degree in Business Administration followed.
Upon Graduation he entered the U.S. Naval Officers Candidate School. He graduated as an Ensign. He was assigned to the Naval Station in Hawaii. While stationed there he met Eugenie Rose Shelton from Tennessee, a teacher at the Hawaii Baptist Academy. They were married August 31, 1962.
Out of the Navy and back in the Valley he began his business career. His first love was matching shiny tuned-up cars with happy drivers. His office was a boat he had parked on a lot in Harlingen with naval flags flying from all corners of the lot. James Dunn Motors was open for business. His inventory soon outgrew his lot and it was onto a larger location, then another, and ultimately to Donna.
As a licensed Auctioneer, he kept many buyers spellbound waiting for this gavel to declare “SOLD”.
The Donna Texas Fiesta Flea Market with its long line of American flags unfurled in the wind was a natural development of his interests.
Visitation will be held at the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, 710 Ed Carey Dr. Harlingen, from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday December 16. Funeral service will be at First Baptist Church, Harlingen, Saturday Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. followed by interment at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International through the Harlingen or McAllen Gideon Camps, to Calvary Baptist Church McAllen, or to Howard Payne University School of Business, P.O. Box 2369 Brownwood, TX 76804.
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