James Darby Walker, known affectionately by friends and family as Jim, embarked on his final adventure on August 2, 2024, after a short, unexpected illness. Born on June 5, 1967 in Dallas, Texas, Jim’s journey through life was one marked by laughter, love, and the ability to fill every room he entered with joy.
Jim’s early years in Dallas set the stage for a life of service and connection. He made lifelong friends at Jesuit High School, who loved him through thick and thin. Their friend group’s Fantasy Football league still meets for yearly draft parties to this day. While in high school, he also pursued his musical talents. He was the lead singer in a band with some of his closest buddies. One of his favorite songs to sing was Born to be Wild, which was part of the set that won them the Battle of the Bands. After high school, Jim’s rock star career had to end and while his friends headed off to college, Jim delayed his pursuit of higher academics and enlisted in the Air Force. He felt he needed to “grow up” and saw the armed services as a great avenue. He was proud of his service and would jokingly reference the movie Starship Troopers, saying that “Only veterans should vote”. His time at the Air Force was spent working on the electric components of C-140 planes and amassing hours towards a college degree.
After serving our country, Jim graduated from Midwestern State University just as the Berlin Wall was coming down in Eastern Europe. With the help of the organization Education for Democracy he was able to secure an English teaching job in the former Czechoslovakia. Expecting to be teaching in the capital of Bratislava, near Vienna and close to civilization, he was instead unceremoniously ordered to travel to the very east of Slovakia. Reluctant but unable to charm the authorities which still carried the air of commie zeal, he arrived in Kosice in December of 1990. He had many adventures during his stay but the most important chance meeting he had was with his future wife Andrea. He noticed her reading a magazine in a student club at her University and walked over to ask a question. Andrea just smiled, unsure of what he had said. After studying English for years and not speaking a word of it, she suddenly picked it up in a matter of weeks and their lifelong communication and companionship took off. Should you ever doubt Jim’s love for his wife, know this: they shared an office for decades, within a mug throwing distance from each other, with no injuries reported on either side of the desk.
Jim returned to Texas, to pretend to study law at the University of Texas Law School in Austin. This time, he was able to charm the authorities and get his degree, even though no one had ever seen him in the classroom. His friends marveled and watched with envy as he skimmed through textbooks and acquired study guides and outlines, to pass his classes. He was busy at the time taking loan applications in a different city for a local lender, to support himself.
Jim was not drawn to a career in law. His work in the field consisted of a one time referral fee, which paid for his entire education. Jim understood he could never work for anyone but himself (Jim accurately called himself unemployable) and instead founded his own company, Counselors Mortgage. He became a counselor to people for the next three decades, not just on mortgages, but on life. He was a man who enjoyed the art of conversation, whether it was about politics, history, finance, sports, or the latest family news. Jim could debate with the best of them, and even through disagreements, you couldn’t help but appreciate his arguments and his wit.
Jim was known in his community for his love of connecting with people and counseling them. Remembering their stories and connecting those who could benefit from knowing each other was his gift. He found jobs and opportunities for them. He was not afraid to push if someone needed steering in the right direction. He was open and honest with everyone about their situation and provided excellent advice, even though he always preceded it by saying: “It is worth exactly what you are paying for it!” and then laughed with them at his own joke.
Jim had a servant’s heart. He regularly gave his time for his children and his community. He was a long time member of the Regent’s Dad’s Curb Service, helping to direct traffic during the busy school mornings. No children were ever run over on his watch. He led his boys in Cub Scouts and coached them and their friends on the Regents Knights lacrosse team. Additionally, he led the financial services ministry at First Evangelical Free Church.
Jim’s interests were as vast as his heart. He had a healthy skepticism of Big Government and kept up to date on all the wheeling and dealing playing out in our political system. He was an avid golfer, a speedy chess player, an occasional poker shark, and a Bible Study regular. But above all, he cherished spending time with his family, especially watching his sons Lance and Luke play sports, sing in the school choir or act in plays. He was the funniest coach, the most enthusiastic cheerleader, and the proudest Dad in the stands.
He leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter, with memories etched in the hearts of his beloved wife, Andrea; his sons, Lance and Luke; his Mom, Nayna Walker; his siblings Ann Walker, Jeanne Oden, Katy McAteer, Gayle Pierce and her husband Scott, George McAteer and his wife Effie; and the memory of his late Dad JT Walker, and brother Gregg McAteer. Jim’s nieces and nephews — Aaron, Alyson, Amy, Cory, Mary, Austin, Andy, Holly, Sean, Josh, Michael, Stephen, Danny, and Philip, along with their spouses and children — will fondly remember their fun uncle who could always make them laugh.
Jim was loving, kind, and funny. As we celebrate Jim’s life, let’s honor his memory by embracing the things he loved most: connecting with those around us, engaging in lively debates, and cherishing the time we have with our loved ones. Jim may have left the stage, but his one-liners, his generous spirit, and his unwavering love for his family will ensure that his encore goes on forever.
So here’s to Jim, a man who lived with the belief that laughter truly is the best medicine, and who practiced it daily. May his stories continue to bring smiles to our faces and may we all aspire to play a round of golf, move a chess piece, or share a joke with even a fraction of the joy that he did. Farewell, Jim, and thank you for the laughter. We love you and miss you so much.
