James (Jim) Donald Coley, 79, died on the 9th day of May 2017. He leaves his wife of 54 years, VaRue Coley; their daughter, Crystal Coley Williams and her husband Christopher; his sister, Connie Boyd of Sevierville, Tennessee; his favorite aunt Helen Hoffman of Annona, Texas; and many cousins and close friends.
Born in DeKalb, Texas and reared in nearby Hooks, the son of Raymond Wesley and Georgia Aileen (Calvin) Coley, he was a lifelong resident of North Texas.
In his early years, Jim would help on the family farm or go hunting with his dad. After graduating from Hooks High School in 1955, he attended North Texas State College (now UNT), graduating in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts. He was accepted into Officer Training School for the US Air Force, where he was a navigator on the B52 and stayed in the AF for over 5 years reaching Captain.
He met his wife, VaRue, in the fall of 1957 through a mutual friend and they were married in 1962 in Wellington, Texas. They lived in Roswell, New Mexico, where he was stationed. Jim’s missions would take him on 24 hour patrol over the Arctic Circle as this was the height of the cold war and near the time of the Cuban missile crisis. In 1965, they moved to Irving, Texas and Jim continued to serve in the Texas Air National Guard.
Jim loved cars. His first collector’s car was a 1939 Packard and his most recent was a 1965 Mustang with a license plate of “Jim’s 65”. He saw the mustang on the showroom floor at the Ford dealership and just couldn’t help himself…it was coming home with him. He loved driving his Ford Lariat 150 pick-up truck and the fancier Lincoln Navigators.
Jim’s industrial arts background led him to create several companies that fabricated the electrical wiring in transportation vehicles and he even holds a few patents on specific products. His strengths in designing harnesses and ability to fix almost anything related to electrical systems were well utilized at work and at home.
Over the years, Jim and VaRue enjoyed travelling, cruising and visiting with friends. Jim stayed in touch with his high school friends and was part of the planning committee for his 50th high school reunion. After retirement Jim could normally be found sitting outside on a patio or balcony watching people, counting cars or watching jets fly overhead.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider donations to The Heights Baptist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Arrangements under the direction of Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, Dallas, TX.
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