James "Jim" Donald MacWilliam Jr.

James Donald MacWilliam, Jr. passed away on the 14th of January 2012, in Houston, from complications following open heart surgery. His memory will be cherished by his wife; Karen, and his children, Catherine Gaillard Brown (Philip), James Donald III (Paula), Payson Lord (Kelley), Walker Gunn and Christopher Grant. He is also survived by stepsons, Craig Thomas Carnish (Karen) and Keith Michael Carnish (Erin); and sister, Anne Dilley (Newt); as well as 10 grandchildren and numerable nieces and nephews.

Jim was born to James Donald MacWilliam and Virginia Payson MacWilliam on December 8, 1932 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. A second generation Princeton graduate (Class of ’54), Jim competed on the university’s wrestling team and participated in the Buster Lewis Society. Chairing his alma mater’s Houston-based schools committee for five decades, Jim took exceptional pride in the significant number of students whom he helped join the Princeton family.

In his early years, Jim served as a Navy flight instructor in Florida, but fell in love with Texas during flight training in Kingsville. He went on to build his career in Houston by founding the commercial insurance firm, Essary, Hart, and MacWilliam in 1971. His work continued at Insurance Concepts which later became Bancorp South. Jim’s gift for building his business went hand-in-hand with this talent for turning clients into life-long friends. His extensive volunteerism extended to coaching baseball at Sharpstown High School and working as chairman of the non-profit Cancer Counseling, Inc. Jim personally overcame three different forms of cancer in his 79 years.

Above all, Jim will be remembered for his optimistic attitude and contagious smile. A regular golfer at Sugar Creek Country Club, Jim will be missed on the course and at Happy Hour. A favorite recollection of the noted storyteller was that he “shot his age” on the 4th of July 2011. “Inside the loop” friends remember him sitting at the piano bar, as well as going dancing with his beloved wife, Karen.

The memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 20th of January, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Martin J. Bastian, Senior Associate Rector for Pastoral Care, and the Rev. Aaron M. G. Zimmerman, Associate Rector for Outreach and Family and Young Adult Ministries, are to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

Princeton graduates are invited and encouraged to wear their school jackets.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorials contributions in Jim’s name may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL, 32256; or The American Cancer Society, 6301 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX, 77057.