James Aubrey Wortham Jr.

James Aubrey Wortham, Jr. passed unexpectedly into the gracious arms of God on Friday, January 28, 2022. James was the loving husband of Tory and a devoted father to his two children, Jake and Carlisle.

Some people collect antiques, others collect cars, James collected friends. He collected many friends during his brief time on this earth and he never forgot a single one of them. He never met a person he didn’t like, and maybe, just as importantly, he never met a person that didn’t like him. No one had more “best friends” than James Wortham.

James was born in Dallas in 1976. He moved to the Spring area, north of Houston, when he was three, where he grew up. He was a multi-sport athlete at Klein High School where he began his collection. He added to his collection of friends at Texas Christian University where he was a pitcher on the baseball team.

Finally, he collected many friends in Austin where he moved soon after finishing college. He had friends from both his professional and business lives. He loved to play golf and mix with his buddies in the Penick Room at Austin Country Club and at dinners on the patio with friends and family.

And, along the way, he met Tory. They were set up for a blind date by Judee Denny Barrett, one of their many common friends. It was, as they say, a match made in heaven. After a couple of years of courtship, they married in 2006. Jake followed in 2008 and Carlisle arrived in 2010.

James loved everything outdoors, mostly fishing and hunting. He loved to snowboard and he and the family spent many wonderful weeks in Crested Butte in the summer. He loved to spend time at the family cabin on Lake Travis and captain his Cobalt boat. He was the “best ever” boat driver. He could maneuver his boat in and out of the tightest places with ease. And, he always had the best play lists! He also dragged his kids and their cousins and all of their friends all over the lake.

He was a sports junkie. Oh, how he loved his Horned Frogs and the Houston Astros. He loved baseball at any level. He couldn’t wait for opening day each year in the major leagues.

Perhaps, best of all, James loved being a dad to Jake and Carlisle. He watched and encouraged them in all their athletic endeavors. Jake, a budding young athlete in his own right, played on the A team for both football and basketball at Hill Country Middle School where he is in the 7th grade. He also plays baseball. Carlisle follows close behind where she is in the 6th grade. She enjoys gymnastics and cheerleading. James was in his element escorting his beautiful young daughter to all of the Daddy/Daughter events at ACC.

Tory and James were a unit, together with their children they were the perfect nuclear family. They complemented each other. James was a little more laid-back; Tory is the "always on the go" mom balancing her business life and family, beautifully.

James will be more than missed. He is leaving a hole in the hearts of his family and his many friends.

In addition to Tory and the kids, James is survived by his parents, Jim & Cissy Wortham of Montgomery, Texas, and his sister, Alysha and her husband, Travis Rose, and their daughters, Avery and Sydney of Austin. He is also survived by Tory’s parents, Janice & Robert Caller of Austin and Tory’s sister Leslie Klaftenegger and her daughter Haley, of Georgetown.

There will be a celebration of James’ life at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 8th, at the Riverbend Church, 4214 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. A reception will follow at the Austin Country Club, 4408 Long Champ Dr.

In lieu of flowers, a check contribution for the children can be dropped off or mailed to the attention of Merrill Lynch Account Manager, Brian Schoppmann at 607 W. 3rd Street, Austin, TX 78701, payable to Merrill Lynch with a memo noting James Aubrey Wortham, III (Jake) and Carlisle Elizabeth Wortham’s full names. Brian is available by phone at (512) 397-3708 or email at [email protected] for any questions or assistance. Or, you can contribute at https://everloved.com/life-of/james-wortham-jr/donate/.