James W. Sykes (Jim), 89, of Buda went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, March 28, 2010. He passed away from natural causes at his home in Buda.

Jim was born May 14, 1920 in Nacona, Texas, to C.B. and Lettie Sykes. He had one brother and three sisters. He was married to Nell Dean on January 21, 1984 in Austin. He proudly served in the United States Army Air Force 211th during World War II from 1940 to 1945 and was stationed in Australia, Egypt and Italy.

After the war, he attended Oklahoma University and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He retired from the U.S. Government Federal Dept. of Roads in 1972. After his retirement he had a successful career building homes and motels throughout Texas. He loved to reminisce with his children and grandchildren about his childhood and those times during the war and about his college years. He always made sure everyone knew he had lived a very fulfilling life. He enjoyed farming, tending to his cows and spending time with his family and friends and oh…let’s not forget his Dachshunds. He enjoyed them tremendously.

Survivors include wife, Nell Dean Sykes of Buda; two daughters, Kandace Heimer and husband Jim of Houston and Rene Murray Sewell of Kyle; four sons, Tim Murray and wife Debra of Fort Worth, Johnny Murray of Lutz, FL, Lonnie Murray and wife Sheila of Boyd,TX and David Murray of Jacksonville, FL; twelve grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and many friends.

His parents, a brother and sisters and his beloved Dachshund Misty Dawn preceded Jim in death.

Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Endicott, James Anderson, Tim Murray, Johnny Murray, Lonnie Murray, David Murray, Todd Bell, Brian Vandewalle, John Paul Murray, Chris Murray and Jason Stovall.

Funeral services were held March 31 at the chapel of Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Austin with interment at Onion Creek Memorial Park in Manchaca.