James (Jim) Brady Tarkington, 94, passed away Wednesday, August 12, 2015. He was born to John Brady and Hollie Garner Tarkington on New Year's Day in 1921. He grew up helping his dad work their farm south of Hallettsville. He attended Williamsburg School through the 8th grade - an A student - before going to Hallettsville High School where he loved playing football until he graduated in 1938 at age 17. Despite the depression, Jim went to college in San Marcos at what is now Texas State University, where his older sister Ruth and several aunts had gone before him. He worked at Bauerschalg's dairy in Redwood and delivered milk to San Marcos customers before class each morning. After a year, Jim was anxious to go on to work full time, so he went to Houston and worked briefly at a can company before making his career in oil exploration - a "doodle bugger". This took him all over Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana, plus Alaska and Ohio. He met his wife Dorotha Dickson in New Mexico in 1941, and together they explored the USA. Each new place was a new adventure.

Around 1970, Jim returned to Hallettsville to help care for his dad. He worked as a surveyor with Buck Rains and began developing a herd of cattle for his retirement. Finally he and Dorotha had settled into a place of their own.

It was a great shock when Dorotha died unexpectedly in 1984. They had been in their new home only eight years.  For a short time, Jim returned to oil exploration work that put him back on the road. Finally he returned to his home place and his cattle.

His interests included music and reading. Music was delightful to him. He grew up with music in the home; his dad played the fiddle, his mother played the piano, and everyone else sang along. Visits to the neighboring McElroys always meant good fun with more music.

Reading was another favorite pastime. Zane Grey was his favorite writer, along with Louis Lamore. Books were never discarded but were often traded or passed on to others in the family or the neighborhood, a practice that continued all his life with his sister Ruth, his aunt Marie, and eventually his niece Dianne.

In later years, Jim renewed a high school friendship with Micky Zappe Seifert and enjoyed her company and that of her children until her death in 2006.

Though many of his later years were spent alone, he was heard to say several times, "I wouldn't change a thing." He always considered himself very fortunate.

Jim is survived by his dear cousins Marguerite Bauerschlag Thompson of San Marcos and Patsy Kelly Rother of College Station; 2 nieces, Carolyn Appelt of Fort Worth and Dianne Appelt of Longview; great niece Hollie Brooks Dickens; 2 great nephews, Brady Gillar and Geoffery Brooks; 4 great great nieces & nephews; and special friends, Becky Luciano Saaco and Pam Eckart.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Dorotha, parents, and sister Ruth Appelt.

Funeral Service: 2 pm, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at Kubena Funeral Home with Visitation starting at 12 noon. Officiant: Rev. Dwight Reagan. Pallbearers: Jessie Allen, Glenn Dickson, Ed Thompson Jr., Bobby Bauerschlag, Frankie Luciano, and Zach Luciano. Honorary Pallbearers: Jackie Goode Robertson, Nella Goode Montgomery, Barron Kirk, Joe Clark, Jack Bairrington, Poochie Appelt, John Henke, French Tarkington and Marvin Peterson. Memorials: Donor's Choice. Burial: Hallettsville City Cemetery.