Jimmy (Jim) Royce Darling

Jim Darling, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully in Houston on February 2, 2022.

Jim was born on a farm near Abilene, Texas on June 30, 1930, to Roselle and Everett Darling as the oldest of three siblings. The other two are brother Thomas Glenn and sister Mary Hester, who both survive. Life on the farm was simple and hard but offered opportunities to master many skills, and Jim developed a love for the land and animals that never left him. He became deeply engaged in 4-H, raising and showing steers, lambs, and pigs. He was a member of FFA and achieved many honors, including being named state FFA president and winning the national FFA speaking contest. He graduated from high school in Abilene in 1948.

Encouraged by his parents and teachers, Jim was determined to get a college education. For his first two years, he attended John Tarleton Junior College (now Tarleton State) majoring in Agricultural Engineering; he was also a member of the Tarleton Cadet Corps, serving as its Cadet Captain his second year. After Tarleton, Jim enrolled at Texas A&M College and became a member of the Class of 1952, achieving honor roll and graduating with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. While at college, he met a beautiful young A&M secretary, Ruth Schrader from nearby Lyons. They married in 1952.

Shortly thereafter, Jim was hired by Lutcher Lumber Company to do surveying work, and he and Ruth packed up and headed to Orange, Texas. Their two daughters, Daree and Danna, were born there. The family moved to Houston in 1962, where Jim joined National Gypsum and excelled in sales, later advancing to regional manager. He left National Gypsum in 1976 to accept a managerial position with Vaughn and Sons; he worked there until 1980 and then at Davidson Texas until 1983.

At that time, Jim decided to form his own company and sourced stockholders and capital to form Merit Millwork, specializing in windows, doors, and custom millwork. Merit Millwork became Jim's pride and joy over the course of its 24-year run in Tomball, maturing from unsure beginnings to a successful company respected in the industry and community. Jim gave special attention to his workforce as the company built a reputation of service and excellence.

Jim bought a farm near Anderson in rural Grimes County in 1980, anxious to get back to his rural roots. He took ordinary acreage and made a showplace out of it – building ponds and barns and even starting a herd of registered Beefmaster cattle.

Another venture was to build a house on Lake Conroe for family and friends to enjoy. Only someone with Jim's vision and background could sketch out such a property, featuring millwork from his company. The house remains a gathering spot for family, church socials, and relaxing and is quite the house for a country boy who once had little besides faith, hope, and generosity.

In their retirement, Jim and Ruth developed an appreciation for world travel and made countless trips that included nearly every part of the world. They deemed travel a learning experience, greatly enriching their lives and shaping their value system. Jim's last trip was local, to Galveston, to celebrate Christmas with brother, Tom, and his wife, Kit, where they enjoyed food, lights, and time together.

Jim was a man of many accomplishments, including the National Gypsum Mel Baker Award and the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award.  An avid Aggie, he was a member of the Texas A&M Former Students Association and the Twelfth Man Foundation. Jim also participated in the American Millwork Distributors Association, the Tomball Chamber of Commerce, and Habitat for Humanity. For the last 30 years, Jim served on the Board of Directors for Chasewood Bank.

Jim's highest priorities were his Lord and then his family. He was an active church member and served in many roles while being a generous donor. He and Ruth were members of Cypress Creek Christian Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Roselle Darling, and his daughter, Danna Darling Murphy. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughter, Daree Stracke and husband Peter Stracke; grandchildren, Caitlin Murphy, Jack Murphy and wife Kelsey Murphy, Jay Stracke, and Julie Stracke; great grandchildren, Annie Murphy and Coen Murphy; and son-in-law, Larry Murphy.

A reception will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, on February 11 ^th , at the Cypress Creek Christian Church, 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, Texas.  A service will be held at 2:00 pm immediately thereafter.