James "Jim"

Henry Looney

James ("Jim") Henry Looney was born on November 9, 1945, in Bainbridge, Ohio with the surname Shoemaker. He entered his eternal rest on April 24, 2022, following a severe illness.

After his young birth mother's death by tuberculosis when he was three years old, Jim was soon lovingly adopted by student preacher Clinton Looney and his wife Melba, parents to a six-month old son when he was added to their family. A sister and three more brothers were included between 1952-1966.

Jim was blessed with a Christian upbringing, having accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 10, loving and serving Him his entire life. In his early teen years Jim took classes at Grundy Bible Institute in Grundy, Virginia during the time his father was ministering in that region. Jim and three of his siblings spent their early childhood years in the mountainous areas of West Virginia and Virginia. He was a dedicated volunteer working with youth in churches in Hilliard and Marysville, Ohio in his early adulthood. Following a move to Texas in 1977 Jim served as a part time interim preacher for the New Testament Christian Church in Mercedes, TX between 1979-1986, and several years later preached for the Church of Christ in Raymondville, TX from 1999-2014. He also served as a deacon and adult Bible class teacher for many years at the Eighth & Harrison Church of Christ as well as occasionally preaching there when needed.

During the early 1960's Jim's parents started a new ministry as missionaries in Mexico, beginning in Guadalajara. After living with his family in Mexico for two years Jim returned to Ohio to reside with his paternal grandparents to finish high school at Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio. Jim enjoyed working with animals, gardening and going fishing while living on his grandparents' farm, later living with an aunt and uncle before marriage. He enjoyed fun times with many aunts, uncles and cousins in his grandparents' very large family.

Although Jim was a young man in his late teens and early twenties during the Viet Nam war era, he was never drafted into military service due to being classified 4F, having been born with cerebral palsy on the right side of his body. He never complained about his disability which required tendon lengthening surgery as a child, always wearing out his shoes more quickly than usual due to his walking gait.

In his earliest adulthood years Jim successfully participated along with church friends on a city league baseball team in Columbus, Ohio.  He was a left-handed batter with the ability to hit the baseball to go any direction in the field he desired to place it, never using a substitute runner.

Jim met the love of his life, Shirley Helene Dawson, in February of 1971, and they were united in marriage in New Castle, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1971. He was employed for 11 years in the quality control lab at O.M. Scotts and Sons in Marysville, Ohio until he moved with his wife and two young children to Harlingen, Texas in April of 1977 after his parents encouraged them to leave the harsh northern winters. In 1978 he became a maintenance worker for the South Texas Health Care System at the state hospital on Rangerville Road in Harlingen, eventually being promoted to a supervisor in the department, working there 29 years until his retirement in 2007 when it became then known as the Rio Grande State Center.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Melba Elswick Looney, his mother-in-law Sue Virginia "Ginnie" Dawson and sister-in-law Deborah "Debbie" Sue Pickens. Four months after Jim had gone from our presence, his 98-year-old father-in-law George A. Dawson was released from his earthly body to enter the treasures of Heaven.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Shirley H. Looney, son Jared J. Looney and wife Hylma of Tampa, FL, daughter Brenda J. Indrakamhang and husband Charlie of Bangkok, Thailand, son Kevin M. Looney and wife Lauren of San Antonio, TX, his grandchildren Adalia, Ken, Lucas, and Jay, his father Clinton Looney and wife Maria Luisa of Harlingen, brother David Mark Looney of Albuquerque, NM, sister Dreama Rosenkrans of Alexandria, VA, Daniel McLuan of Northampton, MA,  Samuel Looney of Smyrna, TN, David Arthur Looney of Round Rock, TX, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Eighth & Harrison Church of Christ at 801 E. Harrison Ave., Harlingen, TX. The family wishes to express sincere thanks for all the emotional and physical support this past year. www.trinityfunerals.com