James F. Pengelly

James Frederick Pengelly - James, age 73, known by his family and friends as Jimmy Fred, Jimmy, “Penny”, Jim, JF, and “Pops” was born on January 1, 1940 to James Howard and Edna Louise Pengelly of Grand Prairie and passed away on March 16, 2013. Jimmy was a lifelong Grand Prairie resident and a member of First Baptist Church, Grand Prairie. He died of a sudden, massive, heart attack, sitting outside in his chair beside his RV, following a quiet good day of fishing at his beloved Toledo Bend Reservoir in far southeast Texas. Jimmy often referred to the Toledo Bend area as “God’s Country”.

Jimmy graduated from Grand Prairie High School in 1958, where he was an outstanding football player under legendary Gopher football Coaches “Skinny” Davis and Amos Turner. After graduation he married his high school sweetheart Martha and served one tour in the US Air Force stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin. He worked and later retired from Bell Helicopter Corporation as a precision grinder machinist and while there, Jimmy earned an Associate’s degree in Drafting and Design from Mountain View College. After leaving the position, he studied for, and earned his Real Estate license and sold residential and commercial real estate around Grand Prairie for Century 21 and Stanfield Realtors. In the community, he served two terms on the Grand Prairie Building Advisory & Appeals Board. Additionally he served as the Charter President (1996) for the Northeast Optimist Club, now named Grand Prairie Optimist Club. He was very proud of this organization and the work that the group does serving the youth of Grand Prairie. One of his major contributions was to help conceive, organize, and serve as Tournament Director for their major fund raiser, the “Big Bass Bonanza” Open Black Bass Tournament held each spring on Joe Pool Lake. This annual event is in its ninth year and provides needed funding for area youth projects. He was elected to and served as President of the Vought Bass Club and was an active tournament fishing member for many years. Jimmy was a 50-year member of the Thomas B. Hunter Masonic Lodge and belonged to the Arlington Chapter 249 Eastern Star. Each Christmas for the past four years Jimmy would transform into “Santa”. He went by the name “Santa James” during this time and distributed toys and other goodies to area children. He also was a member of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santa’s. He worked many “volunteer gigs” for families, schools and churches. He also worked with area photographers and several agencies portraying Santa Claus. He loved this work and being involved with the children, especially upon seeing their little faces and eyes light up when telling Santa how “good” they had been and what new gifts they would like for Christmas. Funeral services are set for Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church, 122 N. E. 2nd St, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. Visitation will be at the Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home, 2951 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052 on Thursday, March 21, 2013 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Interment will be at Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens, 3001 Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052 following the funeral. Memorials are requested to be made to the Grand Prairie Optimist Club, P. O. Box 531078, Grand Prairie, TX 75053. Jimmy is survived by his wife of 52 years, Martha Pengelly, daughter Linda Bird of Maine, son, James and his wife Michelle Pengelly of Cleburne, TX, sister Mary Burrell of Lillian, TX, sister Patsy Galyon and husband Charles of Simms, TX, brother Donnie Pengelly and wife Melinda of Aledo, TX; grandchildren – Deanna Kizer, Evan Kizer and William Kizer of Maine, Kindle Webber, Lucas Pengelly and Joseph Pengelly of Cleburne, TX; numerous cousins nieces, and nephews. The Pengelly family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to each of you, for the many kind expressions of love, compassion, support, and for your thoughts and prayers during our time of bereavement. There is much comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Thank you sincerely and may God continue to richly bless each of you.