James Arnold DeOre

James Arnold DeOre Sr (12/06/1934-02/14/2024) age 89

(aka Jim, aka Jumbo)

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in 1934 to Anthony and Evelyn Joyce DeOre. He grew up in Galveston Texas with 4 brothers. Attended Ball High School and joined the US Army in 1954 at age 19.

Married Carolyn Tharp DeOre April 21, 1964 and celebrated 59 years of marriage.

Jim was fond of telling the story of when he and Carolyn met. He says he crashed a party at the house where Carloyn lived. He and his pal pretended to pass out near the doorway, and watched all the girls come in from the floor. Carolyn says she was never even at that party. However, Carolyn says they loved and supported each other through good times and bad. The majority of their lives were spent in the house they built together in Willis, Texas, where they raised 4 children and were additionally blessed with 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Jim was an engineer at heart, creator/inventor, and a jack of all trades. He was a skilled pipefitter/installer in chemical and petroleum plants. He worked hard for many years and travelled to places such as Libya, for months at a time to support his family. He was a carpenter, welder, plumber, electrician, and refrigeration specialist as well. He tinkered on many things and had a multitude of projects. He could fix anything with duct tape, even broken fingers.

During one of his working assignments in Willis, TX, Jim saw the ideal spot to raise his family. He bought that plot of land and not only built the house from scratch but maintained every inch of it for the rest of his life. Particularly the roof. There was always something needed on the roof. At 87, he was still on that roof.

With his children, he shared a philosophy: People access only a small portion of the brain's power. Just use half of the brain the average person uses to apply yourself and pass your standard school education, then use the other half of your brain to find additional interest and explore the world's enormous opportunities. If you do this, you will be less bored and happier in all you do. Although each of his children do not boast of brilliant success in primary school, they enjoy lives lived with purpose, success in their careers, combined with curiosity and creativity because of their Dad.

Jim was an inventor of interesting and functional things. He designed a combustion engine. After dreaming of the design for more than 30 years he put it to paper and patented it. The fact that car manufacturers were not interested was disappointing, but he did accomplish the design. Plus he built his infamous pontoon bike right in the middle of the living room. It didn't go very far, but had a very impressive rooster tail water splash.

Along with inventing, he enjoyed fishing, boating, panning for gold, and playing Lottery. When Texas first started holding lottery drawings in 1992, Jim wrote a prediction program. His program would calculate all night and spit out results on a dot-matrix printer all day. He and his lotto club would pool their money and buy tickets every week. He continued to play lottery even after he could no longer predict, but played quick-picks.

He was a visionary with a meticulously mathematical brain. He had a different way of looking at circumstances, challenges, and people all of which set him apart and made him memorable. We will miss his vitality, passion, and strength.

James Arnold DeOre Sr (12/06/1934-02/14/2024) age 89

(aka Jim, aka Jumbo)

Was preceded in death by father, mother, and brothers Donald, David, George, and Jerry DeOre.

Survived by wife Carolyn Tharp DeOre

Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

Kim Broulliard and husband David Broulliard and family

Dawn DeOre Havran and husband Scott Havran

James A DeOre Jr and wife Debbie DeOre

Eve DeOre Beames and husband Sidney Beames

Anthony (Tony) DeOre

Grandchildren and Greatgrandchildren:

Jennifer Havran Lubrano and husband David Lubrano

Evelyn and Isla Lubrano

Logan DeOre and wife Brianna DeOre

Lucas Beames

"...and, when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars,

And he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun." - William Shakespear