James R. "Jimmy" Burch III

James R. 'Jimmy' Burch, III

 Born on February 8, 1965, James Romanous Burch III flew Home to join his Creator on March 14, 2024. He was fifty-nine years old. 

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he was preceded in death by his father, James R. Burch, Jr., and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Burch, Sr, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vestal.

 He is survived by his mother Karen Vestal Morris, her son Jesse, his former spouses Tamela Meade and Deborah Burch, and his family and friends, far and wide.

He was a Class of '83 graduate of Oakhaven High School, and attended Clarendon College in Texas for two years before training as an electrician through the Journeyman apprenticeship program of IBEW Local Union 474. He was a proud member of his union, serving, for a time, as its shop steward. He was the Maintenance Facilities Supervisor of Zone #4 for Memphis Shelby County Schools, who mostly knew him as "Cowboy."

 A very practical and accomplished gentleman, Jimmy was an extremely active person, whether doing side jobs on home maintenance for his friends or working as a tech utility for CBS and ESPN at regionally televised events. An expert cook, he was part of both the Kilowatt Cookers and the Smokin' Outlaws, and cooked at Memphis In May for many years. He loved water sports, and was an avid fisherman, boater, and skier. He could also be found riding his four-wheeler or his Jeep to several of his favourite getaways. Though unable to dance or sing, Jimmy loved music and had an eclectic taste, encouraging others to play and sing as they would.

 A go-getter and a high-flyer, and well-versed in almost every crucial life skill, Jimmy never met a stranger, and was very generous with those he loved, family and friends alike. His humour and sarcasm were dry enough to light brush fires, and his good common sense was in direct antipathy to the chaos of the world surrounding him. He practised patience, forethought, reason, and forgiveness, and exercised these thanklessly every day.

 As an act of compassion for other cancer patients, Jimmy donated his body to Genesis for scientific research in the hope that he could help prevent the suffering of others. 

There will be a memorial service for Jimmy at Christ The King Catholic Church in Southaven, Mississippi, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Mass will be at 11:00 AM, preceded by a visitation at 10:00 AM, with lunch to follow the service.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at the link below or to Christ the King Church.