Jimmy Dale Quimby

Predeceased in death by his brother, Thomas Ray “Buddy” Quimby; daughter, Karen Quimby Denton; father, James Bennett Quimby; mother, Ruby Thornhill Quimby; sister, Mary Ruth Quimby.

Survived by; wife, Sadie Quimby of Houston, Texas; daughter, Susan Quimby of Houston, Texas; son, Jimmy R. Quimby and wife Kathy of Houston, Texas; son, James F. Quimby and wife Lydia of Rayville, Louisiana; granddaughters, Kelli Denton of Webster, Texas, Elizabeth Sasser of Houston, Texas, Chelsea Bradshaw of Rayville, Louisiana; grandsons, Joe Denton and wife Laurie of Aliso Viejo, California, James F. Quimby Jr. of Houston, Texas, Christopher Quimby of Houston, Texas, Joshua Quimby of Houston, Texas, Tony Bradshaw and wife Kirby of Rayville, Louisiana; great granddaughter, Bella Craft of Webster, Texas; great grandsons, Jaxson, Bryce and Asher Denton of Aliso Viejo, California, Jaylon and Bryson Quimby of Houston, Texas, Theodore Sasser of Houston, Texas, Jonathan Callaway of Rayville, Louisiana; sisters, Shirley Roberts and husband Fred of Rayville, Louisiana, Dorothy Willis of Denham Springs, Louisiana; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Jimmy attended the Zebedee Baptist Church in Rayville, Louisiana. He accepted the Lord at the age of 14 and was baptized in Big Creek in Zebedee, Louisiana.

Jimmy left home and joined the U.S. Navy Dec. 3, 1953. He served on the U.S.S. Porterfield DD-682 where he learned welding and was a Pipe Fitter Apprentice. He earned his G.E.D. from the U.S. Armed Forces Institute in Jan. 8, 1957 and later departed from the Navy Nov. 6, 1957. He received an Honorable Discharge on Dec. 2, 1961 after satisfying the Reserve Requirements.

Jimmy went to the Shreveport Trade School Nov. 22, 1957 for an 18 month long welding course. He finished the course in 6 months. The instructor told him that he taught him everything he knew and he was ready to go out and find a job.

Jimmy began working as a welder for Mr. Shoemaker in Rayville, Louisiana.

He met Sadie on April 13, 1959, later got married and started a family.

(Read how Jimmy and Sadie's love story began on the next page)

Jimmy was so good at being a welder that he started training others to be welders as well.

Jimmy and his family made their way to Houston, Texas where he soon found employment as a welder with Brown & Root in the Houston Ship Channel. Every pipe he welded had his #988 on it. He picked up the nickname of Brother-in-Law and that was how everyone knew him during the 19 years and 9 months he worked there and even after he retired his friends from work still called him Brother-in-Law.

Jimmy decided he was not ready to retire full time. He took a year off. Learned how to cook, clean house and wash cloths and he claimed he could cook cornbread better than Sadie could. He also took a home study course and learned to be a locksmith. He then opened J & S Locksmith Service and his customers claimed he was the best locksmith around. He could always find a way to make keys for the older vehicles. One of the highlights of his career was meeting and making keys for Country Music Artist, Gene Watson. They became good friends over the years. He worked another 20 years before retiring for the second and final time.

Sadie took care of Jimmy at home until the end just as she had promised him she would.