James Louis Henkes, Sr. (Jimmy), 91, of Palacios, TX, passed away on December 8, 2024. He was born February 16, 1933, in El Maton, TX, to the late Frank and Annie Hahn Henkes. Jimmy was raised in El Maton, TX, with his 8 siblings, where his father was a share crop cotton farmer.

Inducted into the army on November 12, 1953, he loved to tell stories of how he chose to be a cook.  November 10, 1955 was his final day in the army and 3 years later, on October 9, 1958, he married Edith Henkes.  They raised their 4 boys on the Selkirk Ranch in Wadsworth, TX, where Jimmy was the ranch foreman. In 1973 they moved to Palacios, TX.  Around the late 60's Jimmy started growing about 50 acres of rice and grew his farm to around 2,000 acres of row crops and rice.  While visiting with his grandson recently he proudly shared how he was awarded rice farmer of the year in 1975. He farmed rice, soybeans, grain sorghum and cotton until 2010 and he share cropped until 2021.

Deer hunting was his favorite thing to do outside of farming and all 4 boys enjoyed growing up going hunting with him in Brackettville, TX.  Jimmy could often be found having coffee at the Matagorda County Coop or playing dominos with friends.  He had a watermelon patch where he would grow watermelon and cantaloupe to give to friends and to the nursing homes. Later in life he liked to have coffee at the Bay City Feed store and meet up with friends at the American Legion Hall.

Jimmy is survived by his sons Daniel Ray Henkes, James Louis Henkes, Jr., and Richard Edwin Henkes (Stephanie Henkes), his sisters Betty Jean Jozwiak (Johnny Jozwiak), Loraine Buff (Willard Buff) and Annette Naiser (Jimmy Naiser) and Mary Ann Freeman (Billy Freeman).  He is also survived by his grandchildren Jenna Nicole Henkes, Courtney Lynn Henkes, Dalton Richard Henkes and Selah Lynn Henkes. He is preceded in death by his father Frank Henkes, His mother Annie Henkes, Edith Henkes, his son Vernon Louis Henkes; his sister's Dorothy Mazyn, Joyce Steffek, and Eleanor Davis and brother Billy Henkes.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Tammy Vacek with Angels Care for her compassionate care.

The family will receive friends and relatives Sunday, December 15, 2024 from 4:00-6:00pm at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City.  The Rosary will be recited Monday, December 16, 2024 at 9:30am at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Blessing, TX, followed by Mass at 10:00am. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers are Jay Ledwig, Scott Ledwig, Danny Henkes, Louis Henkes, Richard Henkes and Dalton Henkes.