Jim was born in Waterloo, Ohio and was the youngest child of Virgil and Gladys Null. He spent a few years in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from Travecca Nazarene University.
One of Jim’s passions was gardening. And the fondness for his garden grew even stronger after he retired. Out in the backyard of his home in Corpus Christi, he harvested large amounts of tomatoes, onions, squash, chili peppers, grapefruits and oranges. Neighbors and family looked forward of the bags and boxes of oranges and grapefruit he delivered to them every year.
There was no need to shop for basil, mint and rosemary – there was always plenty from his garden.
The pantry was always stacked with his jars of homemade tomato sauce, home canned carrots and pickles too.
Yes, Jim loved to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking. On Thanksgiving he took care of the turkey, the ham, and the stuffing himself and sweet potatoes were his specialty.
Jim also loved to travel. He especially enjoyed the annual trips to Mexico he would take with his wife.
He loved visiting Tampico, where he met her. During his time there Jim would make an effort to walk on the beach in Tampico dubbed Playa Miramar; he enjoyed the walks around downtown and shopping at el mercado. A visit to a seafood restaurant in Tampico for Jim was always a must. He loved a big plate of pescado frito or a caldo de mariscos.
He also enjoyed the most simple things in life, such as weekends relaxing at home watching old western films, watching the History Channel and listening to music.
Above all, Jim loved Jesus and the church.
He studied religion and was a pastor for several years at Obetz Nazarene Church in Columbus, Ohio and Sunrise Nazarene Church in South Point, Ohio. And though his life took a different path and leading a church was no longer a part of it, that never stopped him from finding ways to help and continue to spread God’s love. Jim was the president of the Nazarene Mission International. He helped found and build two Nazarene churches in Mexico: Mision Nazarena in Rio Bravo, Mexico and Iglesia del Nazareno in Reynosa, Mexico. For several years he’d drive down to the two border towns every chance he got to visit the two churches. And for Christmas he helped deliver toys for the churches’ youngest members.
He loved his wife, his family and though they lived far he cherished his daughter, his sons and his stepdaughter, who he loved as his own. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were always in his thoughts. And he held a special place in his heart for his brother, Charles and the recent trip they took together to their hometown in Ohio.
Jim is survived by his wife, Luz Null of Corpus Christi; his stepdaughter Natalia Contreras of Carmel, Indiana; daughter Rebecca Null of Tampa, Florida; son Craig Eugene Null (Kirsten Null) of Columbus, Ohio; son William Wesley Null of Edgewood, New Mexico; his grandchildren, Jose Flores, Marisa Alvarado, William Jim Null and Naomi Elizabeth Coy (Matthew Lewis Coy); his great grandchildren, Elijah and Kamilah Null, Alexander Flores, Kylan Mcneal, and McKenna, Adalia, and Corban Coy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bill and great grandchild Eliana Coy.
A visitation and service will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2020 at Funeraria del Angel Memorial Holly in Corpus Christi.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMHolly.com for the Null family.
