James F. Dear

James F. Dear 81 of Austin is finally free. He passed away peacefully after a long, hard, fight on the 29th of November 2011. As James always told folks when you asked how are you? “I’m fine”. Now he is truly fine. He was born on the 6th April 1930 in Guthrie, Oklahoma and moved to Texas where he lived most of his life. He graduated from Austin High School in 1946. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and proudly served his country until being discharged in 1956 where he attained the rank of Sergeant 1st class with the 2nd Armored Division. On the 14th of April 1954, he married the love of her life, Leo F. Crow. They were blessed with three children a son, Chuck and two daughters, Janice and Jennifer. James retired from the Austin Independent School District in 1985 after 31 years of service. He worked his way through the district retiring, as Director of Energy Management He was very knowledgeable and a talented jack-of-all-trades and was always available to help out his friends and neighbors. He enjoyed the great outdoors hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed traveling on his “mission trips” to Oklahoma and Louisiana with his cherished friends. He was a lifelong member of Koenig Lane Christian Church (KLCC) where he served in many capacities. He was such a blessing to his family and friends. He was a quiet gentle soul with a quick wit and a great smile. We will miss his loving generous heart and sparkling blue eyes.

He was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Vera Dear, and his loving wife, Leo F. Dear. James is survived by his children Chuck, Janice, and Jennifer, and his brother Don Dear and wife Mary, seven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Numerous cousins and extended family also survive James.

The family will receive friends from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 2nd of December 2011 at Cook-Walden Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at ten o’clock in the morning, Saturday, the 3rd of December 2011 at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Memorial Fund at KLCC at the following address: 908 Old Koenig Lane Austin, Texas 78756.