James W. (Jim) Downs, 70, passed away Nov. 30, at St. David’s Medical Center in Round Rock after a four-year battle with lung cancer.
He was born Dec. 17, 1951, to Louise Shipley and Wesley C. (Katy) Downs in Monett, Missouri. He was married Oct. 6, 1973, to the love of his life, Joyce Jean Prikryl at St. Mary’s Church in Taylor. They recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary.
Jim and the Downs family moved from Monett to Taylor in 1967, where he graduated from Taylor High in 1970. Jim joined the Marine Corp in 1971 and was discharged in 1973. He was a proud marine vet and never missed a Veterans Day ceremony and breakfast at the American Legion Hall.He worked for years for the Veterans Administration and then in construction.
In 2010, when he semi-retired, he worked for friends, Vencil Mares and Edith Remmel, at the Taylor Café where he was a staple behind the pit and bar. All Jim’s friends knew his black truck and when it was parked at the cafe, they would never miss an opportunity to stop in for a visit. He dearly loved working there.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and will also join his brothers, Bill, John and Joe in Heaven. Also, his inlaws, Johnny and Marilyn Prikryl; and many best friends that will be waiting to see him including Vencil Mares, Robert (BoBo) Parten, Don Patton, Dale, Johnny and George.
Jim loved living in his Old Coupland Rd. neighborhood. He loved his neighbors and enjoyed having friends and family over for visits in his back yard shop and game room that his friends affectionately referred to as Jim’s Backyard Bar & Grill.
He loved and was loved by so many good friends who were like family, Edwin Joe Marek; Wayne and Cara Ging; Carolyn Ging; Edith Remmel, Don and Anna Kovar; Scott and Gloria Morales; the Alderete brothers – (Domingo, Chacho and Daniel) Danny Dunn and wife, Julie; Ivey Bollinger and family; Ronnie and Joyce Harrison; his Taylor Cafe Family; and his entire SPJST family, which are many and dear to his heart.
Jim is survived by many loving family and friends, his wife, Joyce Prikryl Downs; son, Jonathan (JD) Downs of California; daughter, Joey and husband Travis Wilkes, of Round Rock; most importantly he loved being Paw-Paw to his two granddaughters, Kaylin and Hannah Wilkes.
He is also survived by his sister, Carol (Downs) and husband Carrol Bachmayer, whom he loved as a true brother; his brother, Tom Downs and wife, Julie, whom he loved as a true sister; his sister, Becki (Downs) and husband James Horne, whom he also loved as a true brother; his many nieces and nephews, Debbie and Pat Kovar, David and Katie Downs, TJ, Jen, and Mike McCully, Emily and Jordan Smith, Terry and Angela Horne, Kenny and Kristen Horne, Johnny Downs, and Billy and Laura Downs; many grand-nephews and grandnieces; first cousins, Kevin Kelley and Pat Kelley and wife, Barbie, many cousins in Monett, Missouri and his brothersin- law, Dan Prikryl and wife, Tina, and James Prikryl and wife, Donna.
Our family would like to thank Texas Oncology, Dr. Nihar Patel and his staff for the loving care they extended to Jim.
His love and spirit will remain forever in our hearts.
Visitation is to be held Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home, 807 Carlos G Parker Blvd. N.W. in Taylor.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Providence Funeral Home.
