J.R. Sims

J.R. Sims, age 80 of Gatesville, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at his home.

Private memorial services will be held by his family at a later date. 

J.R. Sims was born January 17, 1944 in Turnersville, Texas to the late William Raymond and Rosa Larance Sims. He grew up and attended school in Gatesville. He married Wanda Sue Breeden on December 19, 1962, and together they made their home in Central Texas. He worked construction for McKinney and James Construction Company and was part of the crew that helped build highway 36 through Gatesville. In 1981, he moved his family to the North Texas area and went to work for Southwestern Electric Power Company. In the summer of 1983, J.R. took a job as a truck driver and continued driving trucks until 2019, when he transferred to maintenance, where he worked as a mechanic until his retirement. He moved back to Gatesville in 2022 to be closer to family. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marie Chambers, Linda Duncan, Laverne Spencer, Loraine Beasley, Ruthie Coleman, and Louise Higdon; and brothers, Walter Dean Sims, and Junior Sims. 

J.R. is survived by his first wife, Wanda Dooley; daughters, Regina Sorenson, and Shelia Stacher; sons, Jonathan Randell Sims, and Earl Wayne Sims; grandchildren, Taletha Sims, Krystyna Antoine, Jamison Sims, Joshawa Sims, Randall Sims, Dawn Sims, Crystal Hanna, Kasi Sorenson, Shelby Stacher, and Mackenzie Stacher; and 16 great grandchildren.