James "Jimmy" Lloyd Summers, Jr.

James Lloyd “Jimmy” Summers, Jr. of Kosse, passed away at Providence Hospital in Waco on Thursday, September 12, 2019, at age 73.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Austin's Steakhouse - Banquet Room, in Kosse, from 3:00-6:00 P.M.

Jimmy was born November 28, 1945 in Houston to James Lloyd Summers, Sr. and Doris Jean (Summers) Trotter.  Jimmy grew up in Houston and graduated in the Class of 1964 from Furr High School in Houston.   He attended college for a while before he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1966.  He was stationed out of San Diego and served on an aircraft carrier overseas during the Vietnam War, until honorably discharged in 1970.   After After the Navy service, he worked as a machinist in the Houston shipyards.   He later served as a Petty Officer in the Coast Guard Reserves out of Galveston from 1980 through 1982.

Jimmy was united in marriage with Tina Evelyn Gurganus on August 5, 1973 in Houston, where they made their home and raised their son Curtis.

Jimmy signed on with the Houston Police Department on June 22, 1970, attended the Police Academy, and worked as a police officer with HPD for the next thirty-one plus years.  He began his career as a patrolman, then moved into Burgulary and Theft as a Detective, and was a Sergeant when he retired on February 1, 2002.

While their son Curtis was growing up, Jimmy liked to duck hunt with him and enjoyed salt water fishing in the Gulf at Port Lavaca.   Jimmy’s dream for his retirement was to have a farm, so he and Tina moved to Kosse where he built their farm/ranch, while she still commuted back and forth to Houston to take care of her Mother.    Jimmy cleared the property and set it up to raise cattle and horses.    He liked to ride his horses, really loved riding on the tractor, and enjoyed watching classic movies. 

Jimmy also worked as a security guard at the Kosse mine and made a lot of friends with his co-workers there.    He led a very active life until a heart attack three years ago and was still working on his ranch and at the mine until his final illness in the past three weeks.   This change in his health caused him to miss one of his dreams of riding on the Mississippi River Boat Cruise. 

James was preceded in death by his father, James Lloyd Summers, Sr. and mother, Doris Jean Trotter.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Tina Evelyn Summers of Kosse; son and daughter-in-law, Curtis and Karen Summers of Crosby; cousins, Becky Green and her son Jeffrey Wiemann, Janet and Marty Watts, Carli and Cullen Sorrells, and Cody and Anna Watts, all of Houston; brother-in-law, who was as close as a brother, Buddy Gurganus of Willis; niece, Tammy and husband Daryl Seeley of Magnolia; and other extended family.