James M. Cooksey

James Monroe Cooksey was born on January 21, 1938 in Adamsville, Tennessee, the son of the late Cleo and Emma Cooksey. Mr. Cooksey quietly passed away on February 25, 2015 at the Savannah Healthcare Center at the age of 77 years, 1 month and 4 days.

Mr. Cooksey graduated from Morris Chapel High School in 1956. He moved to Texas and lived there for over 40 years. He was the owner of Jim's Backhoe Service through which he contracted with South Western Bell in Fort Worth, Texas.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. His passion was buying, selling, trading, collecting, and restoring vintage cars. He was also a lifelong NASCAR fan, and an avid collector of racing memorabilia.

He is survived by one daughter, Renee' Harmon of Adamsville, Tennessee; one son, Jimmy Cooksey of Crump, Tennessee. Two sisters, Martha Conaway, husband Keith, and Cheri Hill, both of Adamsville, Tennessee, Eight grandchildren: Kaitlyn Cooksey of Adamsville, Tennessee; Julianne Fowler, husband Jared, of Germantown, Tennessee; Ben Harmon of Savannah, Tennessee; Luke Harmon of Adamsville, Tennessee; Paige Thurman, Reagan Thurman, D'Ann Thomas, Callie Fornash, all of Ft. Worth, Texas; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Emily Ruth Phillips and Peggy Dean McFalls.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105