James Cullen DeLaney

Surrounded by his family, James Cullen DeLaney joined his Creator on January 8, 2014 at his home, the DeLaneys’ Rafter 4D Ranch, in Lamkin, Texas. He fought his battle with cancer valiantly and with grace, far surpassing anyone’s expectations. While James wasn’t cured, he did win his fight as demonstrated in the way he lived his life – by not taking anything for granted, by loving his friends and family, and by acknowledging the path was not his to decide and yet, having steadfast faith in God.

James Cullen DeLaney was born on November 22, 1946 in Houston, Texas to Robert Leroy DeLaney and Sybil Paul Campbell DeLaney. As a boy, James loved spending weekends at his family’s small farm, Del Oaks, where he loved to train Shetland ponies. In 1962, he moved with his family to Agana, Guam where he became an expert shell collector, explorer, ocean swimmer, sailboat designer, and an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Tumon High School in Agana, Guam in 1966.

James returned stateside to attend the University of Texas at Austin where he became a lifelong Longhorn fan. In 1970, he graduated with his degree in Aerospace Engineering and later completed his Masters in the same field. On August 30, 1969, he married the love of his life, Linda Pierson, at the Hamilton United Methodist Church. The young couple moved to Missouri where he worked for McDonald Douglas putting his skills to use designing airplanes for domestic carriers, specifically the DC10-20. Soon after, their first child, Amy Cathleen, was born. The family then relocated to Orlando, Florida when James secured employment with Martin-Marietta where he engineered new missile designs. While there, the couple’s second child, Jennifer Ellen, was born and James enjoyed spending time with his family at the beach, picking strawberries, canoeing, scuba diving and visiting DisneyWorld.

When offered employment at Texas Instruments in Dallas in 1976, James couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to his beloved Texas. James and Linda gave birth to their third daughter, April Leah, and they were delighted to attend many gatherings with their extended families. During his career, James designed infrared night sights for military vehicles, invented the IED detection device used by military tanks, and built target-tracking missiles for the purpose of saving lives. James was known for being capable of building anything.

James retired after 30 years in Dallas and moved back to his parents’ homestead in Lamkin, Texas where he raised polled hereford cattle for the DeLaneys’ Rafter 4D Ranch. James was a member of the Cross Timbers Polled Hereford Association and the Texas Polled Hereford Association and loved his cows dearly.

Anyone who met James knew that he loved life. He was a friend to anyone he met no matter how briefly. James’ passions ranged from fishing, camping, building sand castles and snorkeling, road trips with his family, traveling with his grandchildren, designing everything from landing doors and the Great Pumpkin to boats from recycled material, sailing, swimming, laughing and visiting, and most of all walking in the pasture with his wife.

James Cullen DeLaney is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his cherished wife, Linda DeLaney, his sister, Bobbie Gayle DeLaney Whelan, his aunt, Gayle Campbell Love, his uncle, John Henry DeLaney, and his daughters and sons-in-law, Amy and Andrew Hernandez, III, of Deming, New Mexico, Jennifer and Bill DeLaney of Deming, New Mexico, and April and Colin Thomson of Stephenville, Texas. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Allegra Eva Hernandez, Andrew Cullen Haro Hernandez, IV, Henry James Arnold Hernandez, Xavier Rene Verdugo, Pierson Lee DeLaney, Oliver Henry Thomson, and Daisy Gayle Thomson, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lamkin United Methodist Church in Lamkin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of James Cullen DeLaney to Lamkin United Methodist Church, 2200 County Road 286, Gustine, TX 76455 or to the Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association, Attn: Robbie Morish, P.O. Box 1867, Port Lavaca, TX 77979. James always enjoyed working with the youth, showing cattle, and he loved the Lamkin Church with all his heart.