James Edward Mincey (Jim) of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away peacefully among family on December 9, 2023, at the age of 78.  Born on June 1, 1945 to Lucille Lyons and James Ellis Mincey in San Francisco, California, Jim and his younger brother, John Ellis Mincey, grew up in a military family during a time of war.  Jim's father was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he served in the United States Navy during both, World War II and the Korean War.  After his parents divorced, Jim's father married Aki Yamaguchi, which gave Jim three additional brothers, Daniel, Timothy, and Steven.  The family of seven relocated from California to the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois in 1959.  Jim moved to Malden, Missouri in the early 1960s to help his uncle manage their farm, where he graduated from Malden High School.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lucy Mincey; their sons, Michael James Mincey (Angela) and John Edward Mincey (Kimberlee); daughters, Jennifer Adams (Brian), Diane Matthews and Shelley Munoz (Joel); granddaughters Emma Catherine Alassal (Kaden), Annabelle Rosalyn Mincey, and Brianna Eggett (Ryan); grandsons, William Matthews, Brandon Rubio, Ashton Adams, and Devan Shockley; brothers Daniel Mincey and Timothy Mincey; and sister, Anne Stephens.

During the Vietnam War, Jim and his brother John enlisted in the Armed Forces.  Jim's brother John served in the Marine Corps, and unfortunately died serving his country during his second tour in Vietnam on July 11, 1968.  Jim served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1976, where he began his first tour as a door gunner on a helicopter.  On his second tour, he enlisted as a mechanic and earned the rank of Specialist 5 (Master Craftsman).  He served a total of three tours in the Vietnam War, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1976.

With Jim's mechanical skills working on aircraft engines, Jim decided to take his final military assignment at the Corpus Christi Army Depot in 1976.  Jim later worked at the Celanese facility in Bishop, Texas, and resided in Corpus Christi for the remainder of his life.  Although he was not a native Texan, Jim loved South Texas and made it his home for over forty years.  He loved fishing, playing dominoes and mahjong, and enjoyed watching Texas sports teams.  Jim was a technologist ahead of his time.  He always wanted the latest gadgets, and his mechanical skills allowed him to figure out anything that he put his hands on.

The meeting between Jim and Lucy Mincey was a consequence of fate.  They both had a shared interest in bowling, had two children, and had recently gone through a divorce.  Together, Jim and Lucy brought their families together, which would see many grandchildren in the years to come.  Lucy is an extraordinarily skilled welder, and she started her own business (Star of Texas BBQ Pits) before meeting Jim.  In addition to working a full-time job, Jim helped Lucy with the business and delivered BBQ pits to customers on the evenings and weekends.  But Jim and Lucy always looked ahead, and they later decided to open a convenience store with a drive-thru in Corpus Christi.  Once they felt it was time to retire, Jim and Lucy found their hard work in business turned to the enjoyment of spending time with family and friends.  They were married for over 30 years.

Jim was a very independent person, but he often showed a gentle heart.  He always stressed that people make mistakes when they get comfortable in life and work.  He was so much more than a husband, father, grandfather, or friend; he was the foundation for all his loved ones.  From his constant dad jokes to replies of "10-4," Jim left an imprint on everyone he met.  He said on many occasions that he lived a long and good life, but there will forever be a void from his absence…God knows that no one can ever replace the wonderful man who he was.