James Marion Eller Jr.

1932 - 2025

James Marion Eller Jr.

Jun 16, 1932 - Sep 26, 2025

The old cowboy has taken his last trail ride and ridden off to Heaven…

James Marion Eller, Jr., known to all as "Jim," passed peacefully from this life on Friday, September 26, 2025 at the amazing age of 93 years old. He was born on Father's Day, June 16, 1932, at Brown Hospital in Mexia, Texas, to Myrtis and J.M. "Shorty" Eller.

Jim enjoyed a wonderful childhood, even as he dealt with a year of being quarantined with polio at age 5. He welcomed his little brother, David, during that time, and they grew up in a loving household with lots of animals. He received a very special 13th birthday gift from his dad-a horse he named Sandy, and they became an inseparable pair. And Jimmy, as he was known growing up, became a cowboy. He spent every spare moment on horseback learning to rope and work cattle. He worked on Saturdays and all summers on ranches in the area, as well as helping his dad with his cows. He had charted his lifetime career of horses, cattle, and ranching! He did work and help out in his parents' jewelry and gift store, even learning from his father how to work on and repair watches and clocks, but he knew that was not the path he wanted to take.

Jim grew up hunting and fishing, and in high school he rodeoed and played football for the Mexia Blackcats. Also in high school he became interested in music, playing the trombone in the band and he learned to play the guitar during this time, too. He began to play country and western music with friends and this continued on as he graduated from Mexia High School in 1949 and entered the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, now known as as Texas A&M University, where he majored in Animal Husbandry to pursue his interest in horses and cattle. At A&M, he was a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, playing the trombone, which he also played in a Dixieland band, and he played guitar in several country and western bands, as well.

During his junior year at A&M, Jim married Daphne May, his high school sweetheart. After graduation in 1953, he was called to military duty in the U.S Air Force, stationed in Amarillo, Texas. He enjoyed his time in the Air Force and ended his two year tour of duty as a Squadron commander and a First Lieutenant. During this time, daughter Susan Elizabeth was born in 1955.

After leaving Amarillo, the family moved to Richmond, Texas, for a job opportunity before Jim was offered a position with the Texas Department of Corrections in the Agricultural Administration Office, in nearby Sugarland, as Manager of Field Crops. He was hired to make surveys and maps, and handle the layout of cropland and pastures. He later was put in charge of the row crop production, all of equipment operations, and other duties on about 100,000 of state cropland. During this time, Jim worked to get a Master's Degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Houston in Houston, attending classes at night while working 65-70 hours a week at his job. While living in Sugarland, both of Jim's sons were born. James M. Eller III, "Jimmy," was born in 1958 and Robert David, "Bob," was born in 1959.

In 1963, Jim was offered the job of General Manager of the Chance Farm in the Brazos River bottom near Bryan, Texas, owned by the Chance family for over 100 years. He took the job and moved his family to Bryan to pursue a new challenge of managing 8,000 acres of cotton, grain and pasture. This gave him the opportunity to try out new methods and systems as well as new technologies, in particular, cattle breeding systems that were innovative for the industry at that time. The Chance Farm was sold in 1970 and, in 1971 Jim began a new job with National Feeds as general manager for their operations and traveled extensively to oversee them.

In 1972, Jim and his brother, David, formed a partnership called Granada Land and Cattle Company which eventually grew to a corporation of seven ranches and three feed yards. During the 1980's, Granada Corporation became one of the largest cattle feeding organizations in the world. The company was also the pioneer and leader in embryo technology in the world. During those years, Granada was famous for its extravagant cattle sales, known as the Granada Gala, in the ballroom of the Shamrock Hilton Hotel in Houston, black-tie events with movie stars and celebrities in attendance. The Granada Equine Services was opened in 1983 and quickly became an industry leader, still operating today. Jim served as the president of the Texas Brangus Breeders Association, Director of the National Cattleman's Association, on the National Meat Board, and the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Associations. In 1986, He was the recipient of the National Cattleman's Association's Award for innovative application of new technology in the beef cattle industry.

In 1992, Jim began working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice again and in 1996 he retired from the position of Executive Assistant to the State Director. That same year, he married Barbara Flusche and they moved to Robertson County to live on the ranch he owned and were members of the Franklin First United Methodist Church there. They moved back to Bryan in their elder years and Barbara passed away in 2022.

Included in many more of Jim's achievements and participation in organizations, he was a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Association and the National Western Livestock Show. He was elected to serve as a director of the Texas Quarter Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association. Jim was appointed by Texas governors to serve terms as Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission and three terms as Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Board. He was a lifetime member of the Sul Ross Masonic Lodge and the Twelth Man Foundation at Texas A&M University.

Jim enjoyed being a part of the Tejas Vaqueros, and their trail rides gave him yet another opportunity to be on a horse. He also participated in cutting horse competitions on his beloved horse, Blueberry. One of the joys of his life was his love of Bluegrass music and the banjo he learned to play after being gifted a 5-string by his employees at the Chance Farm. He enjoyed many years of being a part of the Brazos Country Grass Bluegrass Band, as well as performing with his son, Jimmy, on guitar, at various events and family gatherings.

In his last years, Jim lived at the Crestview Retirement Home in Bryan, where he was loved and cared for by the staff who took such good care of him. He will be laid to rest at the Aggie Field of Honor in College Station on Wednesday, October 1st, after a 10:00 am visitation and 11:00am service at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home , 3001 S. College Avenue in Bryan.

Jim leaves behind a great legacy of family, including those that called him Daddy, his children- daughter Susan and husband Gary Guest, son Jimmy and wife Debbie Eller, and daughter-in-law Trish Eller, wife of son Bob that passed away in 2023. Those that called him Papa, his grandchildren, include DeeAnn Eller, Carrie and husband Jeff Kubichek, Katie and husband Jarod Andrews, Erin and husband Alverto Castillo, Robert and wife Natallia Eller, Casey and wife Lauren Guest, Callie and husband Steven Alford, Ross and wife Lauren Eller, Courtney Guest and fiancé Ross Navarro, and Kaylee and husband Cameron McCoy. Great grandchildren are Kolby, Kyle, and Kamryn Kubichek, Jace, Jaxxon and Jett Andrews, Camille Castillo, Casen and Carter Guest, Adelyn, Bryce and Aubrey Alford, Scarlett and Emma Eller, Liam and Reagan McCoy, and baby Nellie Eller, due in December. Jim is also survived by his brother, David and wife Candy Eller, and nephews Erik and wife Aditi Eller, and Dirk and wife Emilie Eller.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, The American Cancer Society , or a charity of your choice. Express condolences with the family at www.CallawayJones.com.