James A. "Jim" Renfrow Jr.

James (Jim) A. Renfrow, Jr. passed away peacefully on June 22, 2023, in Crystal River, FL after a long battle with Parkinson's.

Jim was born on July 5, 1943, in Memphis Tennessee to James A. Renfrow, Sr., and Roberta Gill Renfrow Bramble. Jim was an Episcopalian by faith. He grew up in Perry, Florida when his family was transferred with Buckeye Cellulose Company. He attended schools in Taylor County and graduated from Taylor County High School in 1961. From there he attended North Florida Junior College then transferred to the University of Florida.

He left college during the Vietnam war and enlisted in the US Air Force in 1967 and was discharged in 1973. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business management from California State University, Sacramento, in 1974 and went on to receive a master's degree in 1976. From 1976 to 1983 he worked with Cessena Aircraft Company then joined the Air Force Reserves in 1984. He was then accepted into the flight engineer program on C-5 aircraft and was an honor graduate at the school.

He and his wife, Kay, moved to Fort Walton Beach, FL from California where Jim remained in the Air Force Reserve as a flight engineer on AC-130 gunships stationed with the Air Force Special Operations at Hulbert Field. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of Master Sergeant in 1992. Jim always loved airplanes and anything associated with them. After his retirement from the reserves, he and Kay, moved to San Antonio, TX and lived in an airport community with a hangar and airstrip in their backyard. They each had their own airplanes, Jim a Swift and Kay a Cessna, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a Corvette! They enjoyed a life of fun and adventure! Several years after Kay's death, Jim moved to Crystal River, FL from Texas in 2020 to be near family.

Jim was predeceased by his wife Kay and his parents. He is survived by his sister Marilyn Bush (Tom), brother Robert (Bob) Renfrow (Shirley), half-sister Patricia (Trish) Johnson (Steve), son John Davis (Angie), grandchildren Ryan Davis, Ethan Davis, Dakota Davis, great-grandchildren Noah Davis, Hannah Davis, step-daughter Tara Rojas (David), step-grandchildren Johnny Rogas, Vanessa Rogas, nieces and nephews Shawn Bush, Jonathan Bush, Whitney Melcolm (Derek), Sarah Mandemaker (Patrick), Brendan Melcolm, Brian Markham (Raechel), Lindsay Kushin (Robert), Kyle Markham, Jarrett Johnson (Taylor Sue), Cody Johnson (Shae), Makayla Callaway (Cole), Wyatt Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Colby Orwig. Great-nieces and nephews Hazel Mandemaker, Holden Mandemaker, TJ, Axel, Angelina, Jaelynn, Leyton, Brexton, Kaycen, Kallan, Ellie, Addie, Ember, Amiah, Jaxton.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Rosecastle Assisted Living and Memory Care, Lecanto, FL and the wonderful nurses of Vitas Hospice, Lecanto, FL. There will be no formal service as per Jim's request. A Celebration of Life will be held the end of August in Navarre Beach, FL. Donations in Jim's honor can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, donations@michaeljfox.org or to Vitas Healthcare, vitas.com, Lecanto, FL.

The Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness, FL is assisting the family with Cremation with Care Arrangements.

Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.