James "Jim" Robert Bone, Jr.

They say things are bigger in Texas and looking at the life of James Robert Bone, Jr. would lead you to agree. He was born in Houston, Texas as the eldest of four children to Mary Louise and James Robert Bone, Sr. on April 20, 1942. He was an incredible athlete and grew up playing and competing in sports of all kinds. His love for the outdoors and wildlife filled many of his hours. Whether he was gardening, mowing grass or hunting, he was at home in wide open spaces. He graduated from Katy High School in Katy, Texas and in 1965 he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Range Management from Texas A&M University. He was an avid fan of everything Texas A&M and it is fitting that they unseated number one Alabama just days before he found eternal healing on October 15, 2021.

He had a deep and profound love for many things and all people. He worked hard to achieve and even exceed the goals he set for himself in the corporate world. His hard work and dedication to excellence led him to coveted positions in the Agribusiness world that he never took for granted. He had a passion for agriculture and spoke fervently about how critical farming was to the community, country, and world. Throughout his career he spoke and worked all over the world in an effort to educate people on the importance and necessity of efficient food production. He understood well that producing food would sustain people. He served many organizations and causes throughout his life, the most recent of which were our local homeless shelter, LAMP, and Hospice of South Georgia. He served in Rotary and was an active member of Park Avenue United Methodist Church where he helped out when and where he could. He loved to help those less fortunate and enjoyed using his excellent meat smoking skills to cook turkeys every year that were used to feed those in need.

He had a deep love for young people and went above and beyond to help them achieve their academic dreams by coaching FFA agriscience students on their projects. Some of the young people he helped went on the win state and even national competitions in Agriscience. He supported the youth livestock program for FFA and 4-H as well. He believed there was value in pouring into the lives of young people to equip them to make tomorrow better. He had the great joy and honor of being a judge for the Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo SE Farm of the Year and the Georgia Young Farmers Farm Family of the Year competitions. He loved being able to see the innovation and hard work of so many and truly applauded their efforts.

Above all, he loved his friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Theresa Bone, his three daughters, Stacy, Tracy, and Jamie Bone and their mother, Florence Bone (Valdosta), his mother-in-law, Alene Jones (Valdosta), his brother and sister in law, Bill and Joyce Bone (Cat Springs, Texas), Sister, Ginger Watts (Meadowlakes, Texas), Sister Jeri Lu Goetzman (Sealy, Texas), Brother in law and sister in law, Michael and Debbie Roberts (Ridgecrest, California), and sister in law Teresa Roberts (Jacksonville, Florida), and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Louis and James Robert Bone, Sr, his brother-in-law, James Goetzman, and his eldest daughter, Robin Bone.

Services will be Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary of Park Avenue United Methodist Church at 100 East Park Avenue. The family will be present to receive guests at 2:00 pm that day in the sanctuary and they respectfully request all in attendance be masked out of respect and care for the immunocompromised in attendance. In lieu of flowers, they are requesting donations be made to Park Avenue United Methodist Missions, LAMP, or Hospice of South Georgia. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home