He was born on February 24, 1939, to Jesse John Schilling and Daisy Mae (Riddle) Schilling in El Campo, Texas. The first thing he would want everyone to know is that he loved his daughters and grandchildren more than anything else in this world and consistently put their needs above his own right until the end. The second thing he would tell you is how proud he was of his nephews.

As a young boy, James grew up on the Garwood prairie, hunting, fishing and living off the land. Some of his favorite childhood memories were of large Schi l l ing fami ly gatherings on Sandies Creek. All of his uncles spoke German, but it was frowned upon after the war and he always wished he’d picked up more from them. He loved learning and found different languages fascinating.

James went to high school in Garwood, during which time he lost both of his parents. He was especially close to his daddy and fondly recalled gardening with him from a very young age. After the death of his parents, he became a fixture in the Moss household in Rock Island, growing up as an extra brother to their children. At the urging of his older sister, Ruth Ann, he went to college and continued his education at Texas Christian University. After growing up on the prairie, it was at his beloved TCU that he learned how to properly cut a steak and was exposed to different ways of life and culture.

Upon graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion and Communication, James returned to Garwood, met a dark-haired beauty, married and had two daughters who they proudly raised in Garwood. He followed in his dad’s footsteps and became a farmer and rancher and a general jack of all trades.

He was not afraid of taking risks. Sometimes things worked out, and sometimes they didn’t. When they didn’t, he just tried something else. In his lifetime, he owned KULM Radio Station in Columbus, another radio station in Ruidoso, New Mexico, brokered an unexpectedly lucrative soybean deal with a buyer in Mexico, took an entire rodeo to the United Arab Emirates on his own and almost didn’t make it out alive, relocated to Sierra Blanca for a number of years where he became a trusted member of the community, taught school as a substitute teacher, bought and remodeled a hotel with his own two hands and served as Constable of Hudspeth County.

After suffering a cardiac health scare and his son-in-law making a twenty- four-hour round trip to pick him up, he decided it was time to slowly get back “home” to Garwood just in time to enjoy the early years of his first grandchild. In his seventies, he realized that he didn’t have much to do, so he increased the size of his garden, bought dozens of chickens and began an egg empire, eventually becoming a beloved fixture in the Memorial farmers market, always the first vendor to arrive, rain or shine.

James was a proud member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, or “Stockshow” as he called it. He thought it was just about the greatest thing in the world. He proudly served as a Lifetime Director, International Committee Chairman in the 1980s and was honored to be chosen as a Diplomat later in life.

During Stockshow time, his eyes lit up, and he came to life. During the first week of the “show”, one could always find him in the International Room chatting with any foreign guest who might have been lucky enough to cross in his path. Later in the day, he would still be chatting while enjoying a bourbon and seven. He enjoyed practicing his Spanish and always insisted on ordering food at any Mexican restaurant completely in Spanish.

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He was a thinker, an inventor, and someone who found opportunity in everything, even when there was none. He claimed that he could speak both “city” and “country,” made things work that shouldn’t have by fashioning a homemade solution using only the tools he had on hand. He could have lived to be one hundred, and he would still have come up with a new story just when you thought you’d heard them all. He had the gift of gab and could carry on a conversation with just about anyone he met. The world will be a less interesting place without him.

James Allen is survived by his daughters Lezli Schilling Goss and husband Brian of Houston and Alexandra Ruth Schilling of Garwood; grandchi ldren Jordan Ashley Schilling Goss, Brooklyn Carolyn Stark, and Hunter James Schilling Stark; nephews Brad Hildebrand and wi fe Lisa of Victoria, Jeff Hildebrand and wife Mindy of Houston; great niece Brittany Hildebrand; and great nephews Jeffery Hildebrand, John Thomas Hildebrand and Hunter Hildebrand. He was preceded in death by his parents Daisy Mae (Riddle) Schilling and Jessie John Schilling; sister and brother-in-law Ruth Ann Schilling Hildebrand and Dr. Tommy Hildebrand; domino partner Ed Moeller; and too many old friends to count.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1261 Old Nada Road, Nada, TX 77460. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a rosary at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place in Myrtle Cemetery in Rock Island, Texas.

At James Allen’s request, suits and traditional black attire are not required, but you can wear them if you want. He wanted everyone to feel included even if they didn’t wear a suit. Please send any memories you have of James Allen to lezligoss@ gmail.com. She’d love to incorporate them into a tribute.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial donations in James Allen Schilling’s name may be directed to the following: Garwood Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 131, Garwood, TX 77442 Checks may be mailed to the address above or sent via Venmo -@garwoodtxvfd Dr. Tommy and Ruth Ann Schilling Hildebrand Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, TX 77225 Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.