Jim was born in Waco, Texas on October 11, 1948 and was the second child born to R.C. and Margaret (Tull) DeLuca. Jim always called the years of his youth the “Good ‘Ol Days.” He had a zest for life and was close to his family, friends, and the many cousins he grew up with. After graduating Reicher High School (1966), he moved to Austin, and attended The University of Texas. While at UT, he made his closest lifelong friends and became a Longhorn football fan forever. Hook ‘Em Horns! He enjoyed golf, college football, the daily newspaper, American history & politics, music and dancing with his wife.
Jim gravitated to work that served people. He was a respected business man whose integrity, friendship and genuine care for each relationship were his hallmark. While a manager at the popular Trudy’s Texas Star near campus, he met his sweetheart and fiancée, a student at UT, Maury Patterson. Jim made a move to the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area to manage residential custom homebuilding for MasterCraft Homes, and earned his Texas residential real estate license. He often said he enjoyed it too much to call it work. Maury transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington to be near him. They married in Austin on January 12, 1985 at St. Austin’s Church during a few rare days of white, winter snow. In time, they moved back to Austin permanently where they would be blessed with 36 years together. Jim joined the Mid-Tex Sales & Service, Inc family and built a 25 year career in commercial ice machine and restaurant equipment sales, serving 20 of those years as General Manager. TrimarkUSA/ISI opened a location in Austin, acquired Mid-Tex Sales and invited Jim to join them to help establish the new office. Jim worked 3 years building more great relationships, sales, and continuing to grow the trust from businesses he worked with before.
Jim’s work and hobbies, while fulfilling, are not what defined him; his desire was to live a life that reflected he was a Christian; a child of God by grace, through faith alone in Jesus. He appreciated the solid biblical teaching of his Pastor at church, and grew in his understanding and knowledge of God’s love and plan. He was a member of the treasury team and served where the Lord led him.
This relationship permeated his adult life as a loving husband, caring son for his aging parents, protector of his special sister Diane, and as a wonderful brother-in-law/son-in-law. Having large families on both sides of his marriage, he enjoyed being part of many celebrations, but also supported family in difficulties. His nature was to be kind, fun, generous, and a friend. He was the real deal.
In our hearts he is irreplaceable and will always be remembered with love until we see him again.
John 14:1-6, 27
Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Maury DeLuca (Austin,TX), sister Diane DeLuca (Waco,TX), and many wonderful cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews throughout the Waco/Arlington/Ft. Worth area. He is also survived by his father-in-law Pat Patterson (Austin,TX), brother-in-law Roy Patterson (Hawaii), sisters-in-law Shannon DeCraene (Athens,TX), Schell (Byron) Sells and children (McKinney,TX), Jamie (Bobby) Hillin (Houston,TX), and Sunday Patterson (Austin,TX).
A Memorial Service remembering the life of Jim will begin at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35 in Pflugerville, Texas 78660.
All expressions of sympathy, including flowers, honorary donations to a ministry, and cards are welcome.
InTouch Ministries - https://www.intouch.org/get-involved/give
Our Daily Bread - https://donations.ourdailybread.org/intm2.html?motivation=INTM2
Grace Notes - https://www.gracenotes.online/
Please mail donations to and make checks out to Grace Notes: Grace Notes, 1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, TX 78757
Director, Warren Doud, [email protected]
Village Ministries International https://villageministries.org/online-giving/
Gideon’s International https://www.sendtheword.org/Product/ProductDetail?prd_key=c4c5890c-2c94-425f-9e0a-6b5c1ce47da2&&catTypeKey=38e90af0-d611-4e45-a0ed-cf6867875140
Scripture Memory Fellowship https://scripturememory.com/donate
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