James Graham "Jimmy" Moses

James Graham "Jimmy" Moses passed away on Saturday, the 12th of January 2013, in Houston, Texas. He was the devoted husband of Jeanne Wehmeyer Moses, the adoring father of Jennifer Hart and Jill Holstead, and the proud grandfather of Tommy and Jean Holstead. Jimmy loved life; he loved the world and everyone in it, and the world loved him back. When you met Jimmy, you became his friend. He had time for everyone, and each person he met was delighted to be the focus of his attention. He was beloved by those from all walks of life, and he shared generously his robust personality. During much of his life, Jimmy was faced with serious health challenges; he fought these with persistence and valiance while relishing the life he had been given.
Jimmy was born in Houston on the 16th of April 1944, to Frances and Robert Moses; he was the middle child between big brother Bob and younger sister Barbara. His early years were spent in Richmond, Texas, which he referred to lovingly as "the pearl of the Brazos" and "the hub of the Gulf Coast." He attended Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and graduated from The Kinkaid School in Houston. He attended the University of Texas at Austin on a football scholarship and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where he made many lifelong friends. He proudly wore the "T" ring presented to him by Darrell Royal.
Jimmy moved to Houston after graduation; he worked first with Metals and Tubes and then founded Bunker Steel, an oilfield tube and pipe company, where he served as Chairman and CEO. He married Jeanne Wehmeyer in 1968 and proudly declared that this was the smartest decision of his life. He was fully invested in his two daughters, Jennifer and Jill, and he spent many hours coaching girls' softball - and serving as a sideline coach for all of their other sports.
The family shared a great love for the outdoors and for the sport of hunting, and some of their best memories come from times spent around the campfires in South Texas. Jimmy had the best eyes for spotting game and earned the nickname "Eagle Eyes". He loved to hunt white wing dove, quail, duck, turkey, and whitetail deer and was thrilled when he realized the dream of his own South Texas ranch, El Sueño. He delighted in his family's shared enthusiasm for hunting and the outdoors and felt blessed to see his sons-in-law, Scott and Raymond, embrace these things as well. His grandson, Tommy, reveled in stories of "Jimbo's" exciting hunting adventures. His stories came to life with Jimmy painting word pictures of the beauty and excitement of the outdoors. Jimmy and his family spent wonderful times at their family home in Montana. There, the magnificent scenery with eagles soaring, elks bugling and the Yellowstone River flowing made him feel especially close to his heritage and to God. "Lucky Jimmy" didn't waste a day. Life was too precious.
Jimmy was an encourager and an affirmer. As his 7-year old granddaughter, Jean, practiced on the piano, he would boast to the family, "She has such talent; she's a natural." He was always cheering and rooting for his grandchildren and their friends, and he could be heard for miles with his powerful voice. Jimmy had several mentors throughout his life, and he sustained this legacy by mentoring others. He charmed toddlers and octogenarians and left a lasting impression on all he met. Perhaps Jimmy's most special gift was his extraordinary sense of humor and his comedic timing. He coined expressions that left no doubt about what he was saying. His humor was always fun and at no one's expense, and he could "bring the house down" with his priceless sayings such as: "Let's go girls, we're burning daylight", "Every skunk has a mate", and "She talked me to the ground and then whispered in my ear." People just felt better after having been in Jimmy's company.
Jimmy served as a Deacon at Second Baptist Church and was a longtime member of the Sojourners Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Houston Country Club, Allegro, Tejas Breakfast Club, and Gulf Coast Conservation Society, and he was a proud lifetime member of the Texas Exes. He served on the board of Amegy Bank of Texas and spent many years on the Breeders Greeters Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Jimmy is reunited with his father, Robert Keen Moses, his mother, Frances Bagg Moses, his great nephew, Corbin James Robertson IV, and his parents-in-law, Eva Mae and Robert Wehmeyer.
He leaves to continue his legacy his wife, Jeanne, his daughters, Jennifer Hart and husband Raymond and Jill Holstead and husband Scott, his grandchildren, Tommy and Jean Holstead, his brother, Robert Moses and wife Loretta, his sister, Barbara Robertson and husband Corbin, and his brother-in-law, Robert Erle Wehmeyer, Jr. and wife Jeanie, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Lily Gandara, Leticia Madrano, Jamie and Norma Santos, Sonya and Jamie Santos, Jr. and Tommy Santos for their years of continued care to the Moses family.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 15th of January, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A celebration of Jimmy's life is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 16th of January, in the sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. H. Edwin Young, Pastor, and Rev. John Barksdale, Executive Director of Pastoral Ministry, are to lead the service. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Deacons' Parlor.
Honored to serve as pallbearers during Wednesday's services are Jimmy's nephews: Robert Harvey Moses, James Cutter Jones, Steve Erik Martin, Corbin James Robertson III, William Keen Robertson, Shea Brian Morenz, Robert Erle Wehmeyer III, and Charles Rowe Hollimon, and cousins, Robert Wade Surovik, Steven Lance Surovik, and William Darrell Armer. Serving as honorary pallbearers are all of Jimmy's buddies who loved him and enriched his life.
Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.
For those desiring, the family has suggested memorial contributions be directed to Second Baptist Church's "2nd Loves Kids," 6400 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX, 77057; the Texas Exes' "James Graham Moses Scholarship Fund," P.O. Box 7278, Austin, TX, 78713; or to the charity of one's choice.