James Franklin Faust Jr.

James Franklin Faust, Jr. passed away on September 22, 2022, at the age of 81. Jim was born in Bruce, Mississippi and moved to Memphis with his family as a child. He is a graduate of Central High School in Memphis and Memphis State University.

He met the love of his life, Kathy, at a CYO dance at St. Michael and, years later, they married and had three children. They were inseparable until her death in May 2010.

He had an elephant-like memory and was a friendly person who never met a stranger. He was quite a character and could captivate his family and friends telling stories rich with detail. Jim had a lengthy and successful career which began in the cotton business in the 1960s. He would eventually go on to start the Mortgage-Backed Trading operations in the bond department of First Tennessee Bank where he was famous for his antics such as the "duck-walk". Jim was well known in the bond community from Memphis to New York and, for all intents and purposes, was a "Legend".

On becoming a grandfather, our mother gave him the nickname "Putt-Putt" for which he is now known for all over Memphis. Despite the name, however, Jim was not a very good golfer. He was committed to and never gave up on his love-hate relationship with the golf course at Windyke. Convinced it was the equipment and not his swing, he was a favorite at the Windyke pro-shop and Edwin Watts. He was a past president of the Memphis Golf Association. Like in all areas of his life, he had many good friends in the golf community.

He loved visiting with his extended family at Terraces of Laurelwood, The Half Shell and Folks Folly. He was never hard to find on that short strip of Mendenhall Road. In fact, he met his beloved Kay at the bar in the Half Shell and they married in 2015.

Jim was a wonderful father and raised his children with love and discipline, instilling in them the values of hard work, generosity, honesty, loyalty and friendship. His daughters have gone on to instill those same values in his three grandsons whom he loved and was proud of beyond measure.

Jim is predeceased by his wife of 43 years Kathryn George Faust and wife of 3 years, Kay Joest. He is also preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Mary Faust and his two sisters Geraldine White and Jimmie May Osbon. Jim leaves behind his children, Kim Escue of Memphis, TN, Jeanne Mercer of Nashville, TN and Frank Faust of New York, NY. He also leaves behind three adoring grandsons, Lance, Spence and Paul. Jim will be missed by many nieces and nephews and all the people who loved him dearly.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, September 29th at St. Michael Catholic Church on Summer Ave in Memphis, TN. There will be a reception immediately following the service at Chickasaw Country Club to celebrate his life and send him off.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to St. Peter Catholic Church, St. Michael Catholic Church, Calvary Episcopal Church or a charity of their choice.