James Garland Lavender

James "Jim" G. Lavender passed away Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. Funeral: 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Arlington. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Moore Funeral Home-Bowen Chapel.

Jim was born February 8, 1954, to the Rev. Garland and Grace Lavender in Ranger. Being the son of a minister, he moved to different towns following his dad's appointments. Some of his fondest childhood memories were from his life in Farmersville, a period that he described as the "Wonder Years." He later moved to the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas where he discovered his love of the electric guitar. He graduated from Kimball High School in 1972 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1977.

Jim worked in mortgage servicing for several years, but had a great love and talent for music. He played guitar in several bands in the Dallas-Fort Worth area including Soundhouse, Too Smooth, War Horse, Slip Stream, River of Life, Ancient Winds, The Jon Early Band and a number of others. He once stated, "I relate everything in life to music in some way, form or fashion."

Jim leaves behind his wife, Melanie Dawn, who was his love for 33 years. He is also survived by a son, James Scott Lavender; daughter, Laura Grace Lavender; goddaughter, Rebecca Lauren Thatcher; and sister, Nancy Guerry and her husband, Bill Guerry.

Jim was known by friends and family as a great communicator of written and spoken word. His quick wit, sense of humor and compassion for others will be greatly missed.