James (Jim) Thomas Honderich

James (Jim) Thomas Honderich, 78, went to be with our Lord and Savior on November 27, 2023.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 A.M., Friday, December 8, 2023, at First Family Church in Amarillo.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Jim was born to the Rev. S.J. and Edna Honderich on December 9, 1944, in Carson City, Michigan. The family moved when Jim was a young child to begin a church in Morgan City, Louisiana where his father preached for many years. He loved his years in southern Louisiana. He told many stories of his summers working on shrimp boats in the Gulf.  Jim had the wonderful opportunity to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God High School in Waxahachie, Texas while his older brother, John, was in college at SWAGU. The brothers had quite a time together in Waxahachie, which led to years of reminiscing and sharing wild stories of their youth together. It truly was a blessed time in Jim’s life.

After high school, Jim entered R.O.T.C. at West Texas State University. It was during college that he met the love of his life, Gaye Baggett, and the two were married March 25, 1967.  After graduating in 1968, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, serving at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM, until his discharge as Captain in 1970.

Jim and Gaye had a beautiful love story spanning 56 years. After the military, the couple welcomed their only child, Jennifer. The young family lived in Dallas, Houston, and Little Rock while Jim worked for the Veterans Administration, before settling in Amarillo in 1978. He worked for the Potter Randall Appraisal District for many years. He and Gaye moved to Pampa, TX in 1990 when Jim took the role of Assistant Chief Appraiser in Gray county. He loved his years in Pampa where he was an avid golfer and very involved in the community, serving in numerous clubs and on various boards and charities. After retirement in 2011, he and Gaye returned to Amarillo to be closer to family. He loved being close and attending church with Troy, Jennifer, and the girls. When his health prevented church attendance, he loved watching Jimmy Evans and Robert Morris on television. God’s Word brought him great encouragement and comfort. One of his favorite times daily was listening to Gaye read the Old Testament over morning coffee.

Jim’s greatest love was people. He valued relationships above all. He had many dear friends from Amarillo and Pampa and kept in touch with old friends from his days in the military and Southwestern. He was the baby of his family and cherished his older sister and brothers and their families. He adored Gaye and their beautiful life together. Jennifer was the light of his life and Troy was the son he never had. The two guys in a family of girls had a very special connection. He loved him dearly. Watching his three precious granddaughters grow into lovely young women who love the Lord was the joy of his life. He loved his new sons-in-law, Josh and Cole, and had great peace knowing his girls would be loved and protected.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. S.J. and Edna Honderich, and sister and brother-in-law, Rosemary and Scott Hargrove.

Survivors include his wife, Gaye; daughter Jennifer Duck and husband Troy; three granddaughters, Eve Crist and husband Josh, Ella Coppess and husband Cole, and Eliza Duck; two brothers, Joe Honderich and wife Rae, and John Honderich and wife Edwyna; brother-in-law Kenneth Baggett, and many nieces and nephews.