Billy Jim Harper,

Billy "Jim" Harper, Jr. of Poetry, Texas, took his final flight into the heavens on July 24, 2012. He was 65 years old. Jim lived with Parkinson’s disease and chronic back pain for many years. During the past year, he also had to endure the challenges of dementia. Jim resided at Autumn Leaves of Rockwall for seven months prior to his death. At Autumn Leaves Jim received exceptional care and love from all of the staff and directors. He will be missed by his Autumn Leaves' family. Jim was born on July 21,1947, in San Antonio, Texas at Nix Memorial Hospital. Jim graduated from Kubasaki American High School in Okinawa in 1966, where he participated in football as a quarter back and was class president. Following high school, Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a proud member of Baker Flight with the 6910th Security Squadron in Darmstadt, Germany. He traveled extensively through Europe during his Air Force years. After leaving the Air Force in 1970, Jim attended East Texas State University, which is now called Texas A & M - Commerce. He especially enjoyed English courses which included literature, composition and poetry. One of Jim's favorite poems was Man in the Mirror. When he looked into a mirror, he could always look himself straight in the eyes. Jim was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Texas Zeta Chapter. While at ETSU Jim met his wife Evie Irvin. They were married on June 12, 1971, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Commerce, Texas. In June of 2012 they celebrated forty-one years of marriage after falling in love "at first sight". Jim was employed by several large corporations during his career as a human resource director. He started his career by working for Cullum and Boren Sporting Goods, a division of the Zale Corporation. He always said he sold socks and jocks! Of course, he was soon the manager of the store and then moved up the ladder of success to work in human resources at the corporate office. Then Jim took on a position as HR manager for Cabell's Dairy, owned by The Southland Corporation. Both of these companies were located in Dallas, Texas. Later Jim worked as the Human Resource Director for The HON Company in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Some of these assignments required Jim to travel. He was always willing to do what needed to be done. However, working in the local offices where he could come home each day was his preference. After Jim completed his HR career he decided to try substitute teaching in Forney Independent School District in Forney, Texas. This was a perfect fit! It wasn't long before Jim was hired as a teacher-assistant for special education classes. Words cannot express the joy Jim experienced each day he went to school. He practically opened the building each morning and closed it after dismissal. He was very devoted to teaching every student in the building, even though he was assigned to certain classes. During lunchtime he made sure all students learned to say “please”, “thank you”, “yes or no sir”, and other polite words. Jim was a tremendous influence on countless numbers of children. Jim worked at Forney Intermediate School, which was renamed O. B. Johnson Elementary and at Henderson Elementary. After Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Johnson Elementary rallied to help raise funds for research and to hopefully find a cure. When Jim and Evie signed up to walk in a fundraiser, Johnson teachers and staff showed up wearing t-shirts that said: “I Walked with Jim”. The following two years, Johnson Elementary sponsored their own walk called "Walk with Jim, Run for a Cure". All of these events showed Jim he was loved and respected by the community of Forney. Another joy in Jim's life was his love of flying. He especially enjoyed flying tail draggers. He flew a Citabria and a Cessna L-19. Jim took acrobatic flying lessons from Dwayne Cole, an original barn stormer. Jim developed skills beyond the average private pilot. His favorite time to fly was early in the morning as soon as the sun appeared on the horizon. A quote attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci reads: “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return”. That sums up Billy Jim Harper's feelings towards flying. Jim liked being outdoors. He enjoyed yard work and loved the warmth of the sun. He was thrilled when he was able to go sailing, boating, golfing, swimming or hunting. Actually, he just watched others hunt because was too kind-hearted. Jim loved to watch Forney High School baseball coached by James Boxley. In 2008, he was presented with a signed baseball from the team. Jim was always willing to adopt dogs or cats that needed a forever home. He took pride in naming his pets. For example, he named Captain Marvel, Sweetcheeks, Wolfjaw, Tripod, and Ginny (because she was a licker). Jim, too, had some comical names. He was known as BJ, Uncle Jim, Jungle Jim, Boy, Two Dogs, and Uncle Gramps to name a few. Whenever someone called him "Harper" he would always say, "If my mother wanted me to be called Harper, she would have named me Harper Harper." What a character! If you ever asked Jim, "How is your day?" he would always reply with, "Great, every day is a great day!" The last year of Jim's life was challenging for him health wise. He started saying, "Some days are diamonds and some days are coal." In spite of his health concerns, Jim continued to make people laugh and feel welcomed as a friend. If he could, he would thank all of you for being his relative or friend. In 2007 Jim wrote in a letter, "I would like to be remembered as someone who cared...genuinely and sincerely! I loved to laugh. It was like medicine to me. Please ask everyone at my ceremony to stand up, pat themselves on their shoulder and say...I made Jim laugh." He was preceded in death by his father Col. Billy Jim Harper, USAF, retired, and his mother Olive Catherine Johnston. Growing up in a military family, Jim lived in many places including Texas, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, Florida, Okinawa, and Germany. Jim is survived by his wife Evelyn (Evie) Irvin Harper, his sister Judy Pepper and brother-in-law Jack Pepper of Millersville, MD, his brother Les Harper and sister-in-law Joanne Harper of Naperville, Illinois, his nephews Ryan Batty and his wife Erin of Berkeley, California, Todd Batty and his wife Betty of Silver Spring, Maryland, Matthew Harper and his wife Kim of Aurora, Illinois, his niece Allison Harper and her husband Robert Oden of Alexandria,Virginia. Jim is also survived by his brother-in-law Gerald Irvin of Oklahoma City, OK, his nephew Daniel Irvin of Hot Springs,AR, his niece Deanna Irvin Osment of Keller,TX, brother-in-law Pepper Irvin and his wife Cindie of Amarillo,TX, his nieces Jennifer Irvin Serna and her husband Michael Serna of Dallas,TX, Sarah Irvin Hicks and her husband Trey Hicks of Amarillo,TX, and nephew Stephen Irvin, of Amarillo,TX. Other nieces and nephews are Lauri and Rich Slack of Coppell,TX, Tracey Pritchett of McKinney,TX, Tim and Heather Underwood of Dallas,TX, Mark and Amy Hart of Richardson,TX, Kristy and Paul Billings of Dallas,TX, and Richard Underwood of Arlington, TX. Other sisters-in-law are Sherie Underwood of Grapevine,TX and Judy Underwood Johnson of McKinney,TX. Jim had one uncle of Garland,TX, Carl Wilkinson, one aunt of Columbia, Missoui, Gloria Miller and numerous cousins. Jim's honorary 'niece-granddaughter' Shelby Brogdon and 'nephew-grandson' Hunter Brogdon, both of Forney, Texas, along with anyone who called Jim a friend are also survivors. The Celebration of Jim's Life will take place on Friday, August 10, 2012. A Mass will be said for Jim at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 1305 Damascus Road, Rockwall, Texas, 75087. At approximately 11:45, a lunch reception will be held in the Holy Family Center of the church. At this time Jim would like to be "roasted". Everyone will be welcomed to share their thoughts about Jim. If you wish, there will be stationary available to write your tribute to Jim. Also, you may go to the funeral home web site and sign Jim's guest book. At 2:00, burial of Jim's remains will take place at New Hope Memorial Gardens at New Hope Funeral Home, 500 E. Highway 80, Sunnyvale, Texas 75182. You are invited to attend all of the services or select the events that are comfortable and convenient for your schedule. If you attend the burial, you may bring a folding chair for your comfort. Bottled water will be available. Please feel free to dress cool and casual for all of Jim's services. You may feel more comfortable in capris, shorts or jeans. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake, PO Box 43531, Seven Points, Texas 75143 would be appreciated. Jim was a supporter of this organization. He knew he couldn't save all of the dogs and cats, but he wanted them to be well cared for until they were adopted.