Beloved husband, father, and friend, Dr. James William Cummings, 80, of Denton, Texas passed away on June 7, 2020 after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his brother, Larry Cummings of Greenville, Texas; daughters, Kendra Highley, of Flower Mound, and Kristi McAndrew, of Lantana; Sons-in-Law Ryan Highley and Michael McAndrew; and grandchildren Tanner and Alexandra Highley, and Cade, Ashley, and Ava McAndrew. He also leaves behind many close friends whom, like his family, enjoyed outings with him to any sporting event he could find.

He was born in Greenville, Texas on April 30, 1940 to William and Lillie Mae (Nix) Cummings. While growing up on a cotton farm, then moving to "town," James worked hard at home and excelled in school, before going onto study accounting at East Texas State (now Texas A&M Commerce). He went on to a thirty-plus year career as a CPA and manager with the Internal Revenue Service, retiring with distinction. Because James wasn't one to relax through retirement, he began his second act as a graduate student in U.S. History, earning a Ph.D. in 2003 from Oklahoma State University. His dissertation was published and can be found in many collegiate libraries, including Harvard, Yale, and other prestigious institutions.

Above all, though, James was a family man. After his wife, Ava Toldan Cummings, passed away in 1990, he became the single parent of two teenaged girls. He dove into the role with care and gentleness, making sure his two girls were well loved and supported after the death of their mother. He went on to become a dedicated grandfather of five, who made sure his grandkids had lots of wonderful memories of the children's theater, baseball games, the yearly New Year's Eve tradition at the Stars game, and any other field trip he could devise. His loving presence will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in the Chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas at 2:30 PM.