James "Jim" Carr,

James Shirley Carr, Junior, 86, passed away on Monday, March 22, 2010, at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, after a brief illness. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, March 27 at 10 a.m. in Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery, with Rev. Kirkland “Skully” Knight officiating under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Jim was born August 5, 1923 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the son of James Shirley and Bertha Clyde McDougald Carr. His family nickname was “Bucky,” shortened after his dad called him “Sonny Buck.” He enrolled in Louisiana State University in 1941 but interrupted his college career the following year to serve in the Naval Air Corps during World War II, as an air crewman based in Pearl Harbor. After the war, Jim returned to college, dividing his time between his studies and a passion for designing and flying model airplanes, a hobby that led to an article published in Mechanics Illustrated in 1946. He graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1949. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon (Deke) fraternity. Jim initially worked for Ford Motor Company, later establishing various automobile dealerships in Hillsboro and Port Arthur, Texas. He retired in 2003, after 54 years in the car business. His lifelong dream of living on a lake was fulfilled in 2005 when he moved to a waterfront home on Lake Palestine. Throughout Jim’s life, he enjoyed the serenity of fishing, boating, raising and showing quarter horses, and cheering for the LSU Tigers. Mr. Carr was a wonderful, devoted and giving father and grandfather; they all loved and adored him tremendously. He was a member of the Lone Star Fly Fishers Club. In Port Arthur, he was a member and elder of First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, President of the Lions Club, and served on numerous civic boards and committees. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Bertha Carr; Aunt, Flora Inez McDougald; and grandson, Stephen Patrick Howell. He is survived by his three daughters, Candace (Candy) Carr Howell of Beaumont, Carol Carr Owens and husband, George, of Bullard, Gayle Carr Steiner and husband, Thom, of Tyler; sister, Gloria McAdams of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; seven grandchildren who knew him as “Paw Paw”, Major James (Jimmy) Carr Howell and wife, Stephanie, of Fort Benning, Georgia, Christopher Ryan Howell and wife, Anna-Kristian, of Cary, North Carolina, Kristin Boyd Williams and husband, Justin, of McKinney, Jason Terrell Boyd, Colin James Marsh, Shane Thomas Steiner and Samantha Kylie Steiner all of Tyler; great-grandchildren Harper Elizabeth and Sadie Caroline Howell of Fort Benning, Georgia; niece Susan McAdams and nephews Skipper and James McAdams all of Baton Rouge; special cousin, Sybil Wilkinson of Huntsville, Alabama; and his longtime dear friend and companion Carlita Zummo, of Port Arthur. The family is grateful to Dr. Jeff Carr and the loving care provided by the Cardiac ICU nurses. If desired, memorials may be made to a charity of choice.

James "Jim" Carr,

August 5, 1923 - March 22, 2010