James Engle

James Engle, age 58, of Quitman, Texas passed away peacefully in his wife's arms at his residence on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

James's graveside service was held at Pleasant Grove Memorial Cemetery, Winnsboro, Texas on January 25, 2025, afterwards a memorial celebration was held at a private home.

James was born on February 13, 1966 to David and Marie Engle in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He attended schools in: Lindsey, Oklahoma, Quitman Texas and graduated in 1984 from Alba-Golden Texas.

James was born an entrepreneur and a dreamer. He had a myriad of interests, including working as a roustabout in the oilfields, patching up farm trucks, bootlegging liquor, learning basics of an aircraft mechanic and hauling water for Chaparral Trucking, his family's business. During his younger days his motivation was to have money for dates and his cars.

James served in the Air Force from 1984 to 1986 until a devastating accident in Alaska sent him home. After the military he headed to Houston to expand his knowledge and his responsibilities. Houston is where he worked with his Uncle L.C. building surreys and buckboards for trail rides. He met and married Kristina Kins in 1993 and they were blessed with a son named Devin.

Obligations piled up. James went back to school at Local 54 Sheet Metal Workers Union, became vested and earned his journeyman status. Race cars were still a priority. He bought an interest in a race car shop, where he built race cars for his partner to use in the NASCAR's Slim Jim all Pro Series. The marriage ended and he moved back to Quitman. He found work repairing cars and finding hard-to-find car parts. He had a new partner and they installed septic systems. He again adapted his fabricating skills in the field to be well known and requested often. He met and married Cynthia Dylla in 2006. They teamed up driving their own commercial trucks. He contracted driving for Swift and later with Mercer Transportation. After the team ran two million miles in twelve years James's health deteriorated.

James was preceded in death by his: mother and stepfather, Johnny A. Turner; his father and stepmother Virgie Engle; and his sister Jan Gharst.

James is survived by his wife Cynthia Engle; his first wife Kristina Kins; his son Devin Engle; his niece Jennifer Gharst; his nephew Casey J. Turner; his stepdaughters: Anne Brooks, Rebecca Yant, and Rachel Pollard; his one grandson Henry Yant; a great-niece Cheyenne Crutsinger and her two sons, Gunner and Caleb Marshand; estranged half-brother John Lawrence Turner.

James was baptized in the Apostolic Church of Faith in Jesus Christ where he found divine comfort.

To James there was no such thing as a stranger. He made friends easily with his giving nature, radiant warmth and endless stories. Finally, "Here's what you got to understand..."