James "Jim" Leslie Stone, was born May 16, 1927 in Dallas Texas and passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 in Sanger, Texas, surrounded by his family. He was born into the loving home of George Leslie and Dorothy Mae (Hope) Stone, where was raised with his 3 siblings, Marcia, Edward, and Wilton. The childhood tales of their upbringing depicted a home rich in faith, family and good-hearted sibling mischief. James was athletic and was the quarterback for Adamson High School, where he graduated in 1945.  After graduation, he served our country as a member of the U.S. Navy. His service allowed him to attend and graduate from Southern Methodist University, where he met his wife of 69 years, Joyce Broughton. They married in Dallas, Texas on September 2, 1949. This blessed union produced four children Cynthia, Kim, Shannon and Amy.

After their marriage, Jim worked as a foreman for his father-in-law's construction company.  In 1956, they came to Denton to begin construction on the Denton Water Plant…little did they know that this move would be the beginning of a journey rich in friendship and service to the Denton community.  Jim volunteered as a civic leader in many organizations, such as the Denton Chamber of Commerce, The Rotary Club and was an inaugural member of the Denton Athletic Club.

In 1956, James embraced his entrepreneurial spirit and opened the Jim Stone Clothiers Store on the North Texas Campus. For a decade, North Texas and the men of Denton dressed in style!  When the 70's came along and the styles changed, Jim was quick to identify this trend and shifted his efforts into another successful business, Jim Stone Homes. Later in life, James sold his business and entered into the real estate profession. His daughters remember this well, as every Christmas he would have them deliver his famous mesquite smoked turkeys to his clients.

James always enjoyed gardening and great cuisine and he and Joyce shared these talents on a regular basis with friends and family. The Stone House parties are infamous and stories are still shared today - where laughter, good food and drink were in abundance.

James was no stranger to the "farm to table concept." Pesticides were handmade and organic, and Joyce and the daughters had to harvest and prepare the fruit of the garden and then feed the compost heap as part of the daily chore list!

James was also known for his love of nature. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed nothing more than hunting with his best friends and grandsons. He was given the fishing trip of a lifetime at 80 years young when his family sent him, his son Kim, brother Wilton, son-in-laws Jeff and Barney and his grandsons Kevin and Cody to Alaska. Strong and athletic, he hiked and fished his way through Alaska with ease.

For those that knew James, he was strong in character-fair, truthful, honest and possessed an extremely strong work ethic.  He was devoted to his family and fiercely loyal to his friends. He was "James" to his wife, "Jim" to his friends, "Bubba" to his siblings, "Big Boy' to his grandchildren and "Jimmy" to his loving caregiver, Agustin Veloz.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Joyce Broughton Stone; his 4 children and their spouses, Cynthia (Stone) & Barney Carrington, Kim & Candice Stone, Shannon (Stone) & Jeff McCord and Amy (Stone) & Mike Reeves; his 9 grandchildren, Adam Doss, Jamie Downey, Kristin Nicholiasen, Kevin Stone, Cody Stone, Courtney McCord, Avery Reeves, Kate McCord and Hunter Reeves; and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Caroline Downey.  He was pre-ceded in death by his parents, George and Dorothy Stone and his three siblings, Marcia Buhk, Edward Stone and Wilton Stone.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas. A "Celebration of Life" will be held immediately following the service at The Greenhouse on 600 N. Locust St in Denton.

James received tender loving care at Mary Triny Assisted Living in Sanger, TX.  It was a beautiful and peaceful environment, so in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made via the following website:  GoFundMe.com/Mary-Triny-Assisted-Living.