James Delton Goerke

James was born July 20, 1976, in Texarkana, Texas. He graduated from Texas High School in Texarkana in 1994, and from Southwest Texas State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology. In 2007, James graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Social Work with a Master's degree in Social Work.

At the time of his passing, James worked at Austin Travis County Integral Care as a licensed social worker, aiding the less fortunate to achieve a better life because, as he said, "all human beings deserve a life of quality and relief from despair."

James was an avid rock climber, runner, and practicing Buddhist. He was passionate about writing fiction and poetry. He loved movies and music and reading books that challenged his intellect.

James is survived by his mother, Cynthia Goerke of Texarkana, Texas and by his father, James D. Goerke, of Leander, Texas.

A Memorial Service for James will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013, 10:00 am, at St. Stephen's Episcopal School Chapel in Austin, Texas. Interment will take place in the Texarkana area, the time and place to be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, James' family requests donations be made in his name to Hill Country Intergroup, 1825 Fortview Rd., Austin, TX 78704.