- Date Of Birth: June 10, 1940
- Date Of Death: May 16, 2012
- State: Texas
James Edward “Jim” Kuykendall returned home to God on May 16, 2012. He died peacefully in his sleep.
Jim was born June 10, 1940 in Port Arthur, TX and moved to Plano as a teenager. He graduated from Plano High School in 1959. In 1966 he met the former Wilma Haba while tending bar in Dallas. They married in 1967 and had three children – Kirk, Kristine, and Karla.
Jim loved his family dearly. The baby of his family, Jim was shaped in many ways by the love of his older brothers and sisters. But the 45 years he spent with his dear Wilma were the happiest of his life. He sacrificed so much during his life to ensure his children were happy and loved. It was his grandchildren that brought him the most joy and kept him young. One of his greatest joys centered on the many hours he spent with his oldest grandson, Jordan, discussing basketball and watching Jordan play. He was recently heard telling his family “we need some more grandkids around here, get on that”. How blessed he was to be surrounded by all of them and all of his grandchildren in the final year of his life!
After his family, Jim had several passions in life. He made his first visit to New York City at the age of 16 and fell in love with the Big Apple and loved visiting as often as he could over the years. He loved his University of Texas Longhorns, never missing an opportunity to dress up himself or anything else he could in burnt orange, even owning a burnt orange Cadillac. He loved baseball, rooting not for the home team but for his beloved New York Yankees. A chance encounter with his idol, #7, Mickey Mantle, would lead to a lifelong partnership and friendship with Mickey’s sons; David and Danny. He was introduced to the baseball card trading hobby by his son and enjoyed it so much he went on to open his own Sports Memorabilia business, which he ran even up until his death. He loved Texas. The Lone Star State was his home and he was proud of his heritage and his neighbors. He loved his court shows, game shows, and old movies – from Westerns like Magnificent Seven to the dance classic Saturday Night Fever.
Jim is survived by his widow Wilma; his son Kirk and daughter-in-law Tamara; his daughter Kris; and his daughter Karla and son-in-law Tim. He leaves behind his grandchildren Jordan, William, Catherine, Peter, Benedict, Rita and another on the way. He is further survived by his sisters Mary Beth Purtle, Santa Mae Brewer and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents; Dudley and Thelma Kuykendall, and his siblings; Dudley Kuykendall, Martha Mulay, “Bowser” Kuykendall, Betty McTee, Ward Kuykendall & Carl Kuykendall.
