James Gordon Underwood

In Athens, Texas on June 2, 1979, James Gordon Underwood was born to James Robert Underwood and Janell Richard Green Underwood.  He passed from this life on March 19, 2022, at the age of 42 years, 9 months, and 17 days. 

James had several things he enjoyed doing.  As a child he loved to go fishing.  If there was a puddle of water, he would hunt for crawdads and many times he would be accompanied on his excursions by his cousin Travis Davis.  No doubt, Travis, being the oldest, was always looking out for James during any excursion.  James loved to ride his bike and would be out and going down the road from home to his Poppaw and Granny Underwood’s home before you could speak his name. His sister, Kelly, was always watching out for him and became his care giver in later years.    

His early years were spent in Eustace, Crandall, and Lancaster and he attended various grade schools in those places.   He attended and graduated from Balch Springs Christian Academy.  He enjoyed his friends and the school and everyday always talked unceasingly about the people and the events which had occurred.  

As the son of a minister, James attended many conferences, revivals, and camp meetings.  Since he loved to talk, he easily made friends and always seemed to have a great time.  Vacations might have been centered around these events, but there were always things to see and do and people to meet which he enjoyed.   

James loved to work on any motor and became an expert and able to revive almost any small lawn mower or weed-eater motor.  His Pappaw Duckworth had taken a “liking” to James and showed him which tools, instead of a hammer, would correct problems with motors.  James did not disappoint him in applying the knowledge from the instruction which he had received.     

With graduation, James began to work for David Thompson in the air conditioning business, however he soon moved north, going to live with his mom, and became employed with the Kroger Food Stores in McKinney, Texas.  His days of employment ended with a wreck in which he received a head injury.  

James was loved by all who knew him.  He didn’t care much for television but loved to listen to his radio.   Looking for something to occupy his time, since he couldn’t work, he attended the local VFW and played pool with the friends which he quickly made.  Even though he had never served in the military, those Vets welcomed him each time he came.   

James will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially his nephew, Andrew, who still looks for “Unk.”  Although he never married, he enjoyed this precious little nephew and watched for Andrew to return in the afternoons from school.  He would meet him as the school bus came to a stop, and cared for Andrew until his sister, Kelly, returned from work in the afternoons.   

For the last two years, James was sick and hospitalized many times as his health failed.  March 19, 2022, James said “see you” for the last time this side of eternity and took his flight from this present world into the hands of our loving God, never to face sickness again. 

James was proceeded in death by his mother, Janell Richard Green, and his grandparents, James W. and Dolores Underwood, and Edgar and Dorothy Green, and his bonus grandparents Lewell and Bernice Duckworth. He is survived by parents James Robert and Jane Underwood, siblings: Tammy Finley (Martin), and Kelly Bowman (Patrick), Scott Laymon (Debbie), Kelly Laymon, Vikki Laymon Smith, and Jon Laymon (Jennifer), many nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins he loved and who loved him.