Jimmy Doyle "Jim" Gregory

Jimmy Doyle "Jim" Gregory was born on May 2, 1934, in Childress, Texas to George Marshall Gregory and Lillie Mae Baker Gregory. He was the youngest of five children. He died on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Beaumont, Texas.

Although he was born in Childress, Jim always proudly claimed Turkey, Texas as his home. Jim grew up and went to work on a seismograph crew, which is how he met his wife, JoAnne Thomas Gregory. The story is that he kept making up excuses to go to the bank where she worked just to see her until he finally got the nerve to ask her on a date. And the rest, as they say, is history. Jim and JoAnne were married July 17, 1954, in Hearne, Texas. They traveled with the seismograph crew until Jim was drafted into the Army, where he served in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Shortly after Jim and JoAnne were married, Jim was transferred to the Wiesbaden Army base, and JoAnne quickly followed. They spent their time in Europe developing a deep love for travel, visiting other countries and exploring other cultures. This love turned into an avid hobby they continued long after their Army days.

Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, Jim and JoAnne returned stateside and eventually settled in Hamshire, Texas where Jim took a job with Goodyear Beaumont Chemical Plant. He would work his way up and retire from that same plant 31 years later as Shift Foreman. They raised three children in Hamshire – Doyle, Scott, and Jana.

Jim is survived by his wife of 71 years, JoAnne Thomas Gregory, and his children – Doyle Thomas Gregory, of Winnie, Texas, Jana D'Anne Gregory McEachern and her husband, Bradley Wayne McEachern of Sour Lake Texas; his grandchildren – Tommy and Lindsey Gregory of Lago Vista, Texas, Caitlin and Garret Laudig of Kountze, Texas, Alex Gregory of Winnie, Texas, Chase and Kaitlyn McEachern of Snook, Texas, Claire McEachern of Sour Lake, Texas, and two great-grandsons – Teagan Gregory of Lago Vista, Texas, and Leo Laudig of Kountze, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his son, James Scott Gregory of Bastrop, Texas, his parents and his siblings – Bob Gregory of Comanche, Texas, Nita Robinson of Childress, Texas, Helen Moon of Childress, Texas, and Lou Shanks of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Jim was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church of Winnie-Stowell since 1962. He believed that serving the church was as important as attending church, so as long as he was able, he could often be found helping maintain the church building, raising funds by selling water and soft drinks in the church booth at the Texas Rice Festival, and providing vehicles and servicing the church van for various Methodist Youth trips and functions.

He was an avid fisherman and would fish in any water, but he mainly fished the bay near Crystal Beach and Bolivar. He was also an awesome shadetree mechanic. His friends often said if Jim couldn't fix it, then it couldn't be fixed.

When they weren't traveling, Jim and JoAnne could be found doting on their grandkids – playing countless hours of Uno, making pancakes, hanging out in the boat (at the dock) catching bait fish and throwing back all of the kids' prized, yet tiny, catches, attending any and all school events, and just generally providing good life-lessons.

Although he will be sorely missed on Earth, those who love him take comfort in the fact that he is Home.

"Well done, good and faithful servant…" Matthew 25:21

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church Winnie-Stowell, 1708 TX-124, Winnie, Texas 77665.

A gathering of Mr. Gregory's family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m. with his Celebration of Life at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 23, 2026, at First United Methodist Church Winnie-Stowell, 1708 TX-124, Winnie. A private graveside service will be at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.