James Thomas Sims, age 86, of Frisco, Texas, passed away May 1, 2024. He was born September 14, 1937, in Seaton, Illinois, to Lucy (Ensor) and Frazier Sims.
Jim worked his way through college as a band and choir director, as well as being a night-shift grocery store butcher, where he met his life-long love Mary Elizabeth Finn. He graduated from Monmouth College in 1959 with a Bachelor of Mathematics, then did post-graduate work in mathematics at the University of Iowa.
He married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Finn, on August 7, 1960, in Galesburg, Illinois. Jim and Mary had two children, Daniel Alan and Melia Elizabeth, and one granddaughter, Danielle Elizabeth.
In the 1960’s, Jim worked for the Department of the Navy on various underwater sound programs in California, Hawaii, and Florida. This included space capsule splashdown location detection during the Gemini program. In the 1970’s, he worked managing computing resources for Navy flight test programs at the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland, then worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, managing computer resources in Texas.
After retiring from over 25 years in a civil service career, he worked as computer tech support for a small publishing and convention company in Texas. Being involved with computers since the 1960s, he had a passion for computers and technology his whole life. He also wrote and published several books (available on Amazon), including: One of the Sims’ Kids from Seaton; Seaton: as Seen from 50 Years and 1,000 Miles; and Lucy’s Letters (co-authored by Danielle Malone).
Jim and his family resided in several states including California, Hawaii, Florida, Maryland, and Texas. They enjoyed traveling and took road trips across North America, visiting almost all 50 states and Canada. Jim was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, uncle, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend.
Jim achieved many things in his career. But being a loving and devoted family man was always his highest priority. He truly excelled at that and was a wonderful role model. His life was a beautiful gift for us, he was dearly loved, and we will all miss him so very much.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Melia Malone and husband, Kevin, of Frisco, TX; his son, Daniel Sims and wife, Tiffany of Marshall, Texas; his precious granddaughter, Danielle Malone of Irving, TX; his brother Joe and wife Nora of Montgomery, Alabama; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his parents, Frazier and Lucy Sims; his adoring stepmother Edie Sims; brothers Daniel (Jane), Everett (Juanita), Bill, George, and sister Martha (Keith).
An inurnment will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024, at Ridgeview West Memorial Park, 7800 Sanctuary Dr., Frisco, Texas, 75033.