James Ussery

James Eugene Ussery, a WWII Veteran, a skilled truck driver, a loving husband, and a loving father passed away on July 8, 2025 at the age of 103, with family by his side.

James was born August 24, 1921, in San Angelo, TX to his parents, Elwood and Eula (Strawn) Ussery in the old Fort Concho, TX area. James and his family were one of the Pioneer Families for Tom Green County. His family would move into the county by herding 30,000 head of cattle! James would move all around the state of Texas during his adolescent years. During these years, he would develop a hard-working skillset that would prove to benefit him throughout his entire life. He would also develop a love for learning which he never took for granted, and would learn new things all the way to his passing.

James would find work in various ways throughout his life. He was no stranger to hard work, and he put all of his energy into everything he did ensuring a job well done. James would begin his working career at a very young age, sacrificing his education to help his family. His father and he would travel and pick cotton wherever they could find work. After cotton picking would be done for the season, he would return back to school where his priorities became doing his school work and completing any task that needed to be done around his family home. When he was just fourteen, James began working for Western Union after school. He would deliver telegrams and drugs for the store. He would then take a job driving a taxi for the Yellow Cab Company for three years. During this time, James would marry his wife, Clara Bell Robison, and they would go on to have two beautiful daughters, Carol Sue and Beverly June. James cherished his family above all else.

In April 1943, James would begin working for Sunset Motor Lines hauling government supplies. It was during this time he felt the call from Uncle Sam to join the United States Army on a voluntary basis. He joined the 95th Infantry Division, which was the Third Army under General Patton and was stationed in France. He eventually would end up in Saarlauetuen, Germany where he was placed into the Fifteenth Army on blackout, meaning, nobody knew where his division was. His division was not allowed to send or receive mail, nor were they allowed to wear their insignia for their division. They were completely undercover. After his undercover mission, he was placed back into the Third Army with General Patton. James would lead his brigade during the later part of the war as their lieutenant had been killed during the war. James was always willing to step-up to the plate and take charge. James was a part of history, no doubt. He and his brigade were headed for Berlin when his division was stopped at the Ebb River to wait for the Russians to meet them. This is where James says America made their biggest mistake, and let the Russians take Berlin instead of us, leading to the Berlin Wall being built. James would also witness the wall coming down during the Reagan years and the infamous, Reagan statement, "Take down this wall." James was Honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant from the Army on November 28, 1946 and would return home to start his life over with his family.

Upon returning home from his Honorable discharge with the Army, James returned to Sunset Motor Lines where he would begin driving a truck from San Angelo to Austin hauling oil field supplies. This was his job until 1959 until moving to Abilene, TX. He would then move to Irving, TX in 1964 and would work out of the Dallas office, running the road again! This time, he would go west, from Dallas to Odessa and Pecos, TX. He did this for fifteen years until he had a change of pace going to Amarillo to west of New Mexico. He drove over four million miles with no chargeable accident. His driving record was so impressive that the American Trucking Association asked for Sunset Motor Lines to send him to Washington, D.C. where he received an award for all of his hard work and dedication without a single blemish on his record. He and his wife spent a week at the Nation's capital, and he was Texas proud! James would retire in 1985, but just for a short period.

James enjoyed life to the fullest. He enjoyed the little things, the big things, and everything in between. James was a person who did not take life for granted. He enjoyed learning new things and taking on new tasks. He decided to take a job working for the senior center in Irving, TX driving charter buses. He would do this for fifteen years before retiring for the second time. But, even in his retirement, James did not just sit back and do nothing. He would learn the world of computers. He would even go on to take four computer classes in 2003. He would buy a computer and a printer and teach himself how to use his new tech items.

James liked to keep busy, whether that was playing dominoes (which he loved), having story time (he had many to tell), or being an active in his various organizations that he was a member of, including, the Teamsters, Elks Club, 32nd degree Mason, Eastern Star, Shriners, Irvan Senior Citizen Centers, a dance group called the "Swingers," and the Carol Group. James never met a stranger and loved everyone, and everyone loved him. His personality would light up a room and you knew when he was there. He was very humble and would give the shirt off his back to help anyone.

James is preceded in death by Elwood Ussery (Father), Eula Ussery (Mother), Clara Ussery (wife), Beverly (daughter) and husband Will Tibbets.

James leaves many loving memories to be cherished by his family, Carol Hays - daughter, grandchildren Daryl and wife Lisa, Deyona and partner Dr. Wade Spradley, Curtis, Rodney and wife Melissa, 7 great-grandchildren, 5 great great-grandchildren, cousins Clifton and wife Hele, Ryan and his 3 children.

And as James would say, "...see ya later...."

Services will be held 10:00 AM Thursday July 10, 2025 at Johnson's Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo, Texas.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Funeral Service. Family and friends may send memories and condolences to the family online, www.schaudtfuneralservice.com