James T. Menge

James (Jim) Thomas Menge of Jacksonville, Florida, went home with his Lord and Savior on June 11, 2025. Jim was born on February 5, 1948, the son of the late Vernon Calhoun Menge and Eleanor Gooding Menge, also of Jacksonville, Florida. 

Jim spent his formative years in Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida where he was a part of the first graduating class of Samuel W. Wolfson High School. After high school, he attended La Grange College in La Grange, GA where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and met the love of his life, Gaye Jeanne Glanton. They were later married in Orlando in 1969 and eventually settled in Jacksonville in 1971. 

Jim’s love of surfing began in high school around the same year the movie The Endless Summer hit theaters. He spent the next 48 years surfing the waves on the beaches of Florida, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. Just after college, Jim’s other great passions for plants, gardens, and the beauty of the natural world began to grow. Although he eventually took over the family business at All Florida School Supply Company after graduating from college, he always had his creative side projects including photography, videography, and garden design. 

Jim was a member of the Palm Society and eventually became a licensed landscape designer. He created beautiful landscapes for hundreds of residential and commercial spaces around the Jacksonville area. His eye for design and creating tropical landscapes to bring beauty, peace, and tranquility to gardens was unsurpassed. 

Jim was a loving, loyal, and devoted father, grandfather, husband, and friend. He was a man of faith who studied the Bible regularly and served his friends and family by sharing his love, joy, and gifts with everyone he met. Jim was a keeper of memories for his family and friends and loved creating keepsake videos for all those around him. 

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Menge. He is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-five years, Gaye Glanton Menge; children, Jennifer Menge Halsing (Dave), Melanie Menge Downs (Julian); grandson Levi Julian James Downs; sister Phyllis Luther Wade, his beloved dog Domino, and numerous cousins. 

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 19, at the Church of Eleven 22, 14286 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach followed by a reception at Quinn Shalz Funeral Home from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at 3600 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach. 

A graveside service will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery at 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville at 10 a.m., Friday, June 20 where Jim will be laid to rest with his family.