James Arthur Fennell

Jim was born in San Antonio, Texas.

He graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1961. He received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (1967 & 1969)

His professional career was in service to developmentally disabled persons for over 16 years.

Jim's focus turned back to Texas and his beloved mother, Ellen after the death of his wonderful step-father, Armando Castanon. He and his wife packed up and moved to Arlington with both a job and home in hand. Jim worked as both a Review Appraiser and as Regional Chief Appraiser for LandSafe Appraisal Review Services, a subsidiary first of Countrywide Home Loans and then Bank of America, from 1999 to 2012 when he retired.

Jim loved sailing, world-wide cruising with his wife, reading, writing, playing tennis, watching football and basketball, eating cheese enchiladas, homemade pork tamales and barbacoa de cabeza, drinking good beer and single-malt scotch, collecting shot glasses and thimbles, crock pot cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Karen, his wonderful son, Darin and talented wife, Tonya, his beautiful grandchildren, Savannah, Schuyler and Sinclare, his pretty niece, Shannon, her loving husband, Zach and their cute son Gavin and their baby girl Aubry. All of Jim's cousins and his many beloved friends in California and Texas were always in his thoughts. He is preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Ellen and Armando Castanon and his sweet sister, Barbara Murphy.

A memorial celebration will be held on October 24th at 1pm at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, 4216 S. Bowen Rd., Arlington, TX 76016.