James (Jim) Johnston, Jr.

James (Jim)William Johnston Jr., of Plano Texas, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on November 18, 2023. He was 81. Jim was born on January 17, 1942, in Corpus Christi Texas to James and Martha Johnston.

He loved his Dad and Mom and enjoyed reminiscing about growing up in Alice Texas, visiting extended family in Oklahoma, working at the Piggly Wiggly, playing football and graduating from Alice High School in 1960. Hunting with his Dad (Big Jim) and tinkering in their garage were special memories for him.  After high school, Jim attended Texas A&I College (now Texas A&M Kingsville) and graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

In the summer of 1960, Jim met his true love Kathy, while working together at Glorieta Baptist Assembly in New Mexico. They enjoyed writing many love letters to each other during their long-distance relationship and married each other on August 7,1965 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They moved to Corpus Christi where Jim worked in the oil industry and Kathy taught elementary school. In January 1966, Jim was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Army Reserves, Corp of Engineering. He loved serving his country and being in the military. Active duty took him to Hanau, West Germany where he served with the 568th Engineer Company (LE).

Jim and Kathy loved their time and travels in Germany and Europe and also welcomed their son Matthew while overseas. Upon returning to the stateside, Jim moved his family to Houston. He continued to serve in the United States Army Reserves and earned the rank of Captain.

He also worked for Sun Oil Company in the Human Resources Department and attended Willow Meadows Baptist Church. His family grew again with the birth of their daughter Melinda.

In 1978, Jim and Kathy moved to Plano. They attended Meadows Baptist Church where Jim was a deacon. He taught his kids the importance of knowing Jesus. Meadows gave his family many lifelong friends.

Jim worked hard to provide for his family by delivering newspapers for the Dallas Morning News and the Plano Star Courier, mowing yards, delivering magazines for The Plano Profile, working local elections, security work at Blockbuster and Raytheon and working as a Tax Preparer till 2020.

He loved his family and spent quality time with them. Some special memories were the family trips to Alaska, Hawaii and Colorado. He loved playing a good game of 42 and Mexican Train.

Jim kept up with the Oil Industry and enjoyed reading about American History, the United States Military and WWII. All the grandkids loved eating at Country Burger and Taco Delight with him.

Though health challenges kept Jim from living at home this past year, Jim dearly loved Kathy and talked with her every night, sometimes for hours at a time. They had just celebrated their 58th Wedding Anniversary.

Jim is survived by his wife, Kathy; his two children and their spouses, Matthew Johnston and his wife Elizabeth of Prosper Texas; Melinda Mc Gee and her husband Terry of Princeton Texas; his four grandchildren; Colton McGee and his wife Sarah Beth, Alyse McGee, Ainsley Johnston, and Mitchell Johnston; and his great-grandson Cooper McGee.  He was preceded in death by his father James William Johnston and his mother Martha Lou Johnston.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am-12:00 noon on Friday, December 8th, 2023, at Allen Family Funeral Options. Following the visitation, Jim will be laid to rest with military honors at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2:00pm. The Rev. JH Langley will be officiating.