JAMES OWEN WALKER
A celebration of life service for James Owen Walker, 87,of Tyler was held on Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Stewart Family Funeral Home with Pastor Sam Fisher officiating and his grandsons serving as pallbearers. A private interment was held at Wilson Chapel Cemetery in Donie.
James Walker passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Sept. 12, 1937, in Groesbeck to Howard J. Walker and Ada Rainer Walker. James graduated from Groesbeck High School, Jacksonville College, and Hardin Simmons University and attended seminary in Jacksonville.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Ada Walker; sister, Ava Lee Black; brothers, Heston Walker and Charles Walker. He is survived by his loving family including wife Anne Walker of Tyler; daughter, Melonye Arnold (Chip) of Hideaway; son, Steve Walker (Linda) of Bullard; grandchildren, Heath (Casey), Seth (Hannah), Jacob (Lexxy), Jesse (Elizabeth), Chalres, Walker, Sidney (Caleb); and great-grandchildren, Hadleigh, Gauge, Josiah, Kressa, and Daniel; and brother Dennis (Barbara) of Groesbeck. He had many nieces and nephews that loved him and many friends who have become family. A special thanks to Dine Rainwater and Renee Parker for their loving care over the last several years.
James grew up in a christian family on a farm outside of Groesbeck. Through the power of prayer he survived a very serious illness as a young child and his parents dedicated his life to the Lord. At 18, as a senior in high school of the Class of 1956, he planned to major in agriculture and had received a full scholarship to attend college. During that year he felt the Lord calling him into the ministry. hen he shared this with his mom, she said she already knew because she and his dad had dedicated his life to the Lord after surviving the childhood illness. He was ordained while he was still in high school and started pastoring at the age of 18 at his home church, Lost Prairie. He enrolled in Jacksonville College and worked for the highway department to earn his tuition. While attending college and pastoring at Lost Prairie he drove 70 miles each way to be at the church every weekend. While pastoring there, he met the love of his life and the only girl he ever dated, Anne Turner.
He then pastored at Antioch Baptist Church near Fairfield and married his sweetheart during that time. Next he was offered a pastorate in Crushing at Landmark Baptist Church. He headed the building of the church and attended seminary while there. This was where their first bundle of joy, Melonye Anne, was born. This was the first church where they had a parsonage in which to live. James then planted, built, and pastored Elmcrest Baptist Church in Abilene. He attended and graduated from Hardin Simmons while living there. This was where their second bundle of joy, James Stephen, was born.