James Bagley

James Lloyd Bagley, 80, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 while surrounded by family at home.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin Ray Bagley, and Jessie Lorene Sims Bagley and by his brother Charles Bagley.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruby Lee Bagley and two children: Jimmy Bagley and wife Mariann and also Sherry Kerby and husband, Mike.  James was blessed and survived by five grandchildren; Andrew Kerby and wife, Chelsea; Justin Bagley and wife, Ashton; Sam Gonzalez and wife, Rachel, Ashley Kerby, and Alyssa Bagley.  As if James AKA Papaw wasn’t blessed enough, he is also survived by five greater-grandchildren; Jessie, Wiley, Ella, Tres, and Eden as well as several step-loves (grandchildren); Cheyenne, Mikayla, Tyler, Austin, Shelby, and Trinity.  James also has one surviving brother, Larry Bagley and wife Glena.  James is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

James married his high school sweetheart, Ruby Lee Davis, on December 23, 1960, in Sweetwater, Texas and has always been affectionately called her “Teddy bear” or “Honey”.  Papaw was completely enamored by her and their grandchildren and greater grandchildren and he centered his life around them all.  His eyes sparkled when he was around them and he always smiled through his eyes at them.  He loved all of his girls and lovingly greeted them by calling them “sugar”, “punkin”, or “young lady’.  Though different, Papaw loved his grandsons just as much and greeted them with “hey boy”!  We long to be greeted by him again someday and we know he will be there to welcome us into heaven.  We might even get to go fishing.

Since high school, James worked in the oilfield to support his bride and later on, his children.  He worked long hours filled with hard work and he never complained.  He earned the name “Rooster” for his drive and hard work ethic to “get it, get it, get it!” …done.  Early in James and Ruby’s marriage, when the oilfield was slow, he worked as an electrician assistant building silo during the Cuban Crisis under President John F. Kennedy but then returned to the oilfield with Sun Oil Company.  Towards the latter part of his career, he also worked in the Oryx branch of Sun Oil Company.  For a time, he also ran his own hotshot delivery service before he fully retired finishing up with more long hours away from home and family.  We were so happy when he retired because we had our Daddy and Papaw back!

James was liked and respected by all who knew him, and he was the kindest, gentlest, and most patient father and grandfather.  He was also always ready to help his neighbors and family in need any time they needed it.  James lived out the love of Christ for his family and his neighborhood.  Being fiercely loyal, he would have laid down his life at any time for his family and every decision he made was tailored with Ruby and their children in mind, always putting them first…selflessly.

He will be sorely missed.  As a father he always began his counsel with, “well, sugar” …he was always there to help a wayward child come home until they got on their feet, no strings attached.  He had the most tender touch picking stickers out of little feet and the patience of Job untangling wads of little girls’ necklaces.  Papaw played video games and re-read books to make us happy, even ad nauseam, never saying no.  If he was at home, he was all about family.  He assembled baby cribs and twin beds and countless toys for his kids and grandchildren doing so meticulously and patiently.  He picked up bicycles with flats and returned them all ready to go without being asked to.  He shoed up to mow and weed-eat yards for family and friends unannounced and would not take no for an answer.  He wouldn’t even let us do the dishes after a family meal!  He loved listening to the new generation of oilfield knowledge from grandsons and sharing his own storied with them.  As a child, his arms and lap were the safest places to be on earth.  He went to tee-ball games, soccer games, dances, football games, piano recitals, and Tall City youth play days at the Arena.  Whatever the grandkids were doing, he wanted to be there.  Even when he really didn’t want to be part of the work, he would still come to “supervise” and would stay as long as it took.  His girls kept the coffee hot and food “groceries” coming…Besides family, James loved food and between Ruby and his girls he could have anything he wanted; Ruby’s banana pudding, German chocolate cake, or fudge…Marianne’s pecan pies, Chelsea’s French bread…Ashton’s Italian foods, or anything that his great-granddaughter Jessie made him.  Those were his favorites.

James grew up in the Church of Christ but attended the Baptist Church after he and Ruby were married.  At 29 years of age, he was saved and baptized.  Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice and atonement for our sins because now we have confidence, we will see James again. Psalms 118:19 says, Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.  Roman 8:37-39 says… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nr things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mrs. Ruby Bagley and family request that in lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in their names to Hospice of Midland.

Family only visitation on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.  Funeral to follow on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 2:00pm.

Pallbearers: son, Jimmy Bagley; son-in-law Mike Kerby; three grandsons; Justin Bagley, Andrew Kerby, and Sam Gonzalez and granddaughter Alyssa Bagley.  Honorary pallbearers are Wiley James Kerby and Tres Kanon Kerby.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.