Jimmy Edward Bunt, 74, of Sour Lake, Texas, passed away on Monday, September 23, 2013.

He was born to the late Johnnie and Nodie Bunt, on October 20, 1938, in Houston, Texas. Jim graduated from Beaumont High School in 1958 and proudly celebrated that Purple spirit every five years with his classmates.  In fact, they just celebrated their 55th anniversary. 

He enlisted into The US Army Reserves after High School.  In June of 1964, he married the love of his life - Reba Silcox.  They celebrated 49 years of marriage this year and with exception to living in Houston for a short period of time, spent most of their lives together in Beaumont and Sour Lake.

Jim work career began in the grocery industry working for Minimax grocery at the age of 12 and continued until he was an Asst. Manager. Most notably, he was the owner of J.B. Sales and Service Company in Beaumont, which provided refurbished commercial refrigeration equipment and service repair for refrigeration, ice vending, and air conditioning to grocery, convenience stores, restaurants and other businesses across the state.

With his love for cooking, he was a member of the Cooks 2 Dozen Plus group and also served for 10 years on the Board of Directors of Beaumont’s Boys Haven organization.  Jim’s volunteer work helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for many charities from the Golden Triangle area to small towns across Texas.

Jim is preceded in death by his father Johnnie Bunt and mother Nodie Bunt, as well as, his younger brother Tommy Bunt.  He is survived by: his Wife Reba Bunt, of Sour Lake; his brother John R Bunt and friend Cherie, of Houston; Margaret Bunt Jones and husband Gary, of Lake Jackson.   Uncle Jim and Aunt Reba also had a baker’s dozen of “their” children, which are (13) nieces and nephews… included, of course, would be their children and grandchildren.  

Jimmy was the oldest of three boys followed by John R. and Tommy.  During Jim’s childhood, they lived in Houston, Mississippi (couple of times), Cameron, and finally Beaumont.  They moved around a bit, but some of Jim’s fondest childhood memories took place in Cameron, Texas.   It is the birthplace of his father and where his Grandparents lived – John and Lizzie Bunt.  Jim spent much of his summers with his Grandparents.  It was a special time that proved to be a learning experience that help shape his life.   One of the lessons Jim learned, specifically from his grandfather, came through a love they shared for hunting.  Grandpa would give Jim “1” bullet and send him off hunting.   He had to bring something back in order to get his next bullet, so he needed to be smart, ensure he got a good shot, and then hit his mark.   Being a good shot, which he was, was only a small part of what it took to be successful.   He needed to strategically plan the hunt, understand his surroundings, and discern when to use his single bullet.   Jim’s hunting experiences as a young man translated well into other life experiences.   Discernment, diligence, hard work, perseverance through the elements, and a love for the outdoors were just a few of his characteristics.

In school, Jim’s favorite sport was definitely football.  Certainly not the biggest player on the team, his strength was in his speed and toughness... always determined no matter the opponent.  It didn’t take much to motivate him, but most of his attention was toward a special coach for instruction and guidance – Coach Simmons, who he maintained a relationship with beyond his high school days.

Even in his youth, Jim’s affection for the outdoors often included a group of guys with similar interest.  There is an ancient proverb that says, you can tell a lot about a man, by the company that he keeps. Whether on the football field, hunting, fishing or work, he always kept in good company.  It was appropriate that, next to his high school graduation picture, it described Jim as “determined, barrels of fun, and a friend to everyone.”

Work hard, Play hard!  A mantra that probably best describes Jim Bunt.  It is also the catalyst for some great stories and great friendships.  

Christmas was always a memorable time of year for all of our family and so was summer time at the beach.  He loved our children as if they were his own and always smiled and laughed when he saw them.  It was always an expected treat to have Aunt Reba and Uncle Jim call us on our birthday and sing in such a way that only a close, loving family could appreciate.  Even though Uncle Jim’s voice was mostly drowned out by the sweet tones of my Aunt’s voice you knew that he was participating and that made it extra special.  They always made it to all of our graduations and weddings, cooking at most of these events, which was a passion of Uncle Jim.

This passion was carried out through his involvement with Bud Landry and the Cooks 2 Dozen Plus cooking team that would cater multiple events for different charities in the Golden Triangle area.  They would cook everything from BBQ to crawfish and everything in between.  These men would give their time, sweat, and sometimes blood to make sure that the charities they were supporting were taken care of with the finest of cuisine.  Uncle Jim’s dedication and caring spirit for the needy are characteristics that defined him as a person and a role model.

A gathering of Mr. Bunt’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, September 26, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 27, 2013, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at 2:00 p.m., at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cook’s Two Dozen Plus, Inc., P.O. Box 21782, Beaumont, Texas 77720.