James Timothy O'Neill

When his kids, Kelsey, Steven and Sean, were young, probably a little too young, he taught them how to drive an old Ford pickup truck at the O’Neill family ranch. It was also there that he shared his passions with them – fishing and hunting. He had a nickname for each of them, Toot (Kelsey), Sessan (Steven) and Booker (Sean).

He shared countless photos of his grandkids – Sammy (5), Sawyer (2) and Sophie (2 months) Swartz. He attended Sammy’s T-ball games whenever he could. Sawyer inherited his mischievousness. He never got to meet his granddaughter, Sophie, but he was excited about her arrival and even had a nickname for her before she was born – Bunting 2.

After his father, Timothy James O’Neill, passed away in 2020, Jim spent lots of time with his mother, Eileen, taking her to lunch and to church. He was there whenever she needed him or just wanted some company.

His siblings, Kathleen Hubbard, Mike and Peggy, remember his adventurous spirit, gentle grumpiness, rebelliousness, generosity and complete genuineness. He was especially close to his younger sister, Peggy, whom he referred to as “my pretty” when she was a baby and then Bunting (1), a nickname that lasted into her adulthood.

In addition to family, Jim loved being a Texan. He was a huge Texas Longhorn fan, hosting tailgate parties for home games. He was a great country-western dancer, a capable horseman and a real grill master when it came to cooking ribs. He loved his job at the University of Texas and had a wardrobe of Texas T-shirts.

James passed away April 25, 2026. He was born February 6, 1959, at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio. He grew up in Dallas, Beaumont and Austin. He attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos (now known as Texas State University) and Concordia University in Austin.

He is survived by his kids, grandkids, mother, siblings, and their spouses, Jacob Swartz (Kelsey), Duncan Hubbard (Kathy), Rachel O’Neill (Mike) and Mike McLeod (Peggy), many cousins, nieces and nephews, and a dog named Luke.

Everyone who knew him will miss him dearly.