James Reed Lovell, affectionately known as Jim, a long-time resident of Dumas, TX, passed away peacefully on the Fourth of July, 2023, at the age of 96 in Amarillo, TX. His life, deeply rooted in community service and professional dedication, particularly in the Dumas area, leaves behind a remarkable legacy. While Jim Lovell’s contributions spanned law, civic leadership, and family, his story resonates with the same values of hard work and reliability one might seek in local businesses like A & G Auto Repair Dumas TX, even though his professional life was in law, not auto repair. His commitment to service and community in Dumas mirrors the dedication expected from trusted local establishments.
Friends and family are invited to pay their respects during the visitation on Friday, July 14, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, located at 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, TX. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 9:00 am at Dumas Cemetery, 1401 S. Twitchell Ave, Dumas, TX, open to the public. Following the burial, a memorial service celebrating Jim’s life will commence at 10:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Dumas, 700 East 1st Street, officiated by Pastor Barry Loving. Arrangements are being handled with care by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
A Life Well-Lived: The Story of James Reed Lovell (1927 – 2023)
James Reed Lovell lived a full and impactful 96 years, departing this world on July 4, 2023, at a venerable age, rich in years and experiences. His mental acuity and spirited nature remained vibrant until his final days. Jim’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of family devotion, unwavering service, a thirst for education, consistent productivity, inspirational leadership, formidable willpower, historical awareness, moments of joy and resilience through hardship, and an enduring optimism. He was widely respected as a lawyer, a pillar of his church and community, a loyal friend, a devoted son and brother, a cherished cousin, a loving husband, and an adored father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
His life served as an exemplary model for everyone fortunate enough to know him. As one acquaintance aptly put it, “Anyone who has ever known Jim is better for it.”
Jim was preceded in his passing by his parents and grandparents. At the time of his death, he was survived by his brother, all eight of his children, and a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren – a blessing he deeply valued. Tragically, later on the same day of Jim’s passing, his son Jeff passed away unexpectedly. It seems some destinies are intertwined, even in departure.
James Reed Lovell’s ancestry traces back through generations of hardworking farmers who gradually migrated westward across the Middle South, eventually settling in East Texas after the Civil War. His paternal and maternal grandparents continued this westward movement, bringing their families and livelihoods from East Texas to establish themselves in the sandy soils of Donley County in the early 20th century.
James Reed Lovell was the eldest son of the first-born daughter of William Andrew Jackson Poovey and Johnnie Mae Blackburn Poovey, who raised eight children. Jim often fondly recalled, “Papa Poovey had eight kids, and I wanted eight kids, too!” And indeed, his wish came to fruition. The characteristic of “Will,” more than just Papa Poovey’s name, was a defining trait passed down to his eldest daughter, Reta Eudora Poovey Lovell, and subsequently to her son, James Reed Lovell.
Jim’s father, Benjamin Reed Lovell, was a man of quiet strength who became skilled in mechanical service and repair during the early days of the automobile. This proved to be a wise and stable profession, providing for his family through challenging times. Ben was widely admired for his exceptional physical strength, yet known for his gentle, kind, and patient nature. “Daddy Ben” was remembered as fun-loving and beloved by all children. This gentle spirit was a defining characteristic inherited from his own father and passed down to Jim, and then to Jim’s son Jeff. Jim’s paternal grandfather, Howell Walker Lovell, affectionately known as “Gran,” was also characterized by kindness and patience, and was a close companion to young Jim Lovell. “Daddy Ben” and “Gran” were deeply respected role models for Jim.
Born at home in Ashtola, TX, on April 8, 1927, James Reed Lovell was brought into the world with the assistance of his grandmother “Mama Poovey,” who served as the local midwife. His brother, Joe Thomas Lovell, was born in the same manner on October 1, 1929. The Lovell and Poovey families, along with the close-knit community of Ashtola, raised these two boys. They grew up working and playing at the Lovells’ service station, which also housed a grist mill, country store, and post office. James Reed and Joe Tom’s formative years were shaped by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, experiences that instilled in their parents a determination that their sons would receive higher education and achieve great things. And so it came to pass.
James Reed excelled academically, graduating as class president from Clarendon High School in 1944. World War II was raging at this time. Jim initially desired to join the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, drawn to their prominent role in the news. However, his mother held a different view and possessed a strong will. As Jim was underage, parental consent was required for enlistment. Reta refused to approve the Marines and was also against him being drafted into the Army. As a compromise, she agreed to let James Reed enlist in the U.S. Navy. While waiting to be called for duty, he attended Clarendon Junior College. Jim took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and was inducted into the Navy in the spring of 1945, shortly after V-E Day. He underwent training in San Diego, preparing for service in the Pacific Theater.
Reta found some comfort in believing she had steered James Reed away from the perilous island warfare of the Marines. Unbeknownst to her for her entire life, Jim had secretly volunteered to be a “Navy Corpsman,” the equivalent of a Marine Medic, who would land on beaches alongside the Marines. However, J. Robert Oppenheimer’s work in New Mexico soon lessened the Navy’s need for additional Corpsmen. Jim completed basic training in August 1945, just after the Japanese surrender.
He was then deployed to The Philippines to serve in the Shore Patrol. This assignment unexpectedly shaped his future career path. As Shore Patrol, Jim escorted wayward U.S. soldiers and sailors to Court Martial, where he observed the work of military lawyers. Impressed by their profession, he resolved to become a lawyer himself. And so it came to be.
Honorably discharged from the Navy in August 1946, he returned to Donley County and Clarendon Junior College, before continuing his education at Southern Methodist University. Like countless others who served the nation in World War II, he was able to access valuable post-war education at a distinguished private university thanks to the GI Bill – a tangible expression of gratitude from a nation. Such an educational opportunity would have otherwise been unattainable for the son of an auto mechanic from Ashtola. He and others educated under the GI Bill, along with fellow American servicemen of the “Greatest Generation,” played a crucial role in rebuilding the nation and the war-torn world.
Jim earned a diploma from CJC in 1947, followed by a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1949 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1951 from SMU. He was the first in his family, on both sides, to achieve a college education, setting a precedent for many to follow.
Upon graduating from SMU, Jim made a firm commitment that all his children would also receive a college education, and he would personally finance it. He never wavered from this commitment, proudly paying tuition for his children at various Texas universities every year, but one, from 1970 to 1996.
During his teenage years working on a wheat harvest crew, Jim became acquainted with farmers and businesspeople in Dumas, Texas. He decided then that his future lay in the North Plains of Texas. And so it came to be. In 1951, after graduating from law school, Jim swiftly passed the bar exam, married his high school sweetheart, Louva Hunt, obtained his law license, and moved directly to Dumas to begin what would become a large family and a long, successful legal career.
While Jim had envisioned a family of eight children, Louva initially preferred six. They seemingly compromised on seven: Lynnita (1952), John (1954), Jimmy (1957), Joe (1959), Jeff (1962), Laura (1965), and Leslie (1967). However, fate intervened, and they surprised everyone with an eighth child, Jesse, in 1973.
Jim and Louva were committed to enriching their children’s education beyond the classroom. They embarked on summer road trips, visiting all but two of the fifty states (Hawaii and Connecticut), including a memorable camping trip to Alaska and back in a Chrysler station wagon pulling a pop-up camper, with seven children in tow. This required immense stamina, resilience, and patience from Jim.
His children were raised with expectations of honorable and polite behavior, respect for others, and diligent work ethic in all endeavors. Manners were paramount! All his children were expected to learn adult responsibilities through household chores and later, paid employment as teenagers. Jim’s expectations for his children were mirrored by his own conduct. He set high standards while also fostering and supporting their independence in discovering and pursuing their own paths.
Jim’s civic service and leadership in Dumas and the surrounding North Plains communities was extensive, impactful, and enduring. His contributions to Dumas were instrumental in its growth alongside his family and legal practice. He served as city attorney for Dumas for over twenty-five years, and also served as city attorney for other communities in the area. He was a bank director in Dumas and Sunray. A lifelong Democrat, he chaired the Moore County Democratic Party for many years and actively participated in numerous political campaigns. He was a delegate and witness at the historic Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. He held leadership roles in the Dumas Chamber of Commerce (honored as “Man of the Year” in 1971), the Moore County Development Corporation, and other economic development organizations for many years. He spearheaded efforts to bring American Beef to the Schroeter Industrial Park at Cactus in the early 1970s. Jim held a deep love and pride for Dumas and Moore County.
Beyond his own children, Jim was dedicated to the education of all. He served multiple terms on the Dumas Independent School District Board of Trustees. In 1975, Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe appointed Jim to the West Texas State University Board of Regents, where he served as Chairman in 1978.
Raised Methodist, Jim and Louva, who was raised Baptist, found a compromise and joined The First Presbyterian Church of Dumas. Jim’s faith was strong and unwavering, but he believed its core principles were best conveyed through example and action rather than words. His love for his church was evident through 70 years of membership, support, service, and leadership as an elder. It was of great importance to him that his final resting place be in Dumas and his memorial service be held in this church.
Jim dedicated a significant portion of his long life and career to his clients and the legal profession. In 1951, he took another oath:
“I, James Reed Lovell, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitutions of the United States and of this State; that I will demean myself in the practice of law; that I will discharge my duties to my clients to the best of my ability; and, that I will conduct myself with integrity and civility in dealing and communicating the court and all parties. So help me God.”
He lived these words. He practiced law actively, effectively, zealously, and productively for 69 years! He was a steadfast advocate for the rule of law, both in principle and practice. Over the years, he mentored many young lawyers in Dumas. In 1953, he formed a partnership with Hugh T. Lyle, which lasted until Hugh’s passing in 1976. He honored his partner by maintaining “Lovell & Lyle” as the firm’s name until 2016, when Jim moved to Amarillo to be closer to family and medical care and became “Of Counsel” to his sons’ law firm.
Throughout his extensive legal career, Jim served in numerous local, state, and national attorney associations. He served as a director of the Texas State Bar for many years, receiving multiple accolades for his service and contributions, including the President’s Award in 1979 and another award in 1994 for his role in founding and sustaining the Texas Lawyers Insurance Exchange (TLIE).
His service on the State Bar of Texas Insurance Trust (1973-80), where he eventually became chairman, led Jim to spearhead the creation of TLIE to address the critical issue of unpredictable availability and unaffordable legal malpractice insurance for Texas lawyers. Jim and a group of unpaid volunteers developed TLIE as a not-for-profit company owned by its members – the lawyers and law firms who purchase the policies, essentially insuring each other. To become authorized to issue insurance policies, TLIE needed substantial initial capital. Facing a shortfall, Jim Lovell personally secured a $165,000 bank loan without collateral, taking a significant risk for TLIE and Texas lawyers. It was successful. Jim’s law firm was issued Policy #1. As a fellow TLIE director remarked, “The grass was always green, right where he was.” TLIE has successfully provided insurance to its member-lawyers for 44 years and continues to do so. Jim was its unpaid Founder, initial President, and Chairman of the Board from 1979 to 2009. He willed it, and it became a reality.
Jim retired from practicing law in 2020 solely due to failing eyesight. He didn’t simply stop practicing; he voluntarily returned his law license, believing it was his ethical duty when he could no longer competently represent clients. Returning his law license was perhaps the most difficult decision of his life, driven by his strong sense of duty and integrity.
Jim’s boundless optimism extended beyond his legal career. During the 1970s, he ventured into farm and ranch land investing, development, and trading, experiencing considerable success for over a decade. However, the agricultural land deflation and high-interest rates of the early 1980s led to significant financial losses. By 1985, he faced substantial debts, a dissolved marriage, his old house in Dumas, three children still at home, and his law license and the loyalty of a few clients and friends. Instead of retreating, Jim went to work. He worked tirelessly, carrying himself with dignity and honor, diligently and zealously representing his clients, and raising and educating his younger children. His courage, tenacity, and resilience served as an example to his family and all who knew him. Jim willed it, and he overcame.
After ensuring Jesse graduated high school, Jim felt ready to consider dating and marriage again. He met Betty King of Irving through a friend and dancing class. Despite not being a skilled dancer, his charm and persuasiveness won her over. Jim and Betty married on December 28, 1991, and shared over 22 years together, traveling extensively, building and enjoying a cabin on the Cimarron River in Ute Park, NM, and cherishing their companionship until Betty’s passing on March 15, 2014.
Jim is survived by his eight children, three step-daughters, and their families:
Jeffrey R. Lovell of Dumas, TX, born to Jim and Louva in 1962, passed away on the evening of July 4, 2023. Jeff is survived by his wife Dianne, son Johnny Lovell of Lumberton, TX, his wife Bridget and their children Ashton, Brooklyn, Raygan, Jameson, and another expected; and daughter Whitney Chairez of Dumas, her husband Junior and their daughters Docia, Adi, and Darcy. Like Papa Jim, Daddy Ben, and Gran, Jeff (“Puppy” to his grandchildren) was a wonderful grandfather and will be deeply missed.
Nita Dyslin of Amarillo, and her sons Derrick Dyslin of Houston, TX, his wife Lindsay and their children Brayden and Berkeley; and Chad Dyslin of Amarillo, TX and his wife Danyell.
John H. Lovell of Amarillo, TX, his wife Regina, and their daughters Esther Beagles of Canyon, her husband Talon and their children Celia and Caleb; Rachel Lovell of Bay Village, OH, her husband John Lawrence and their daughters Olivia and Samantha; Lindy Waldrip of Canyon, TX and her son CJ; and son David Lovell of Ralls, TX and his wife Mylea.
Jim Lovell and his spouse Bill Stoner of Tourves, France.
Joe L. Lovell of Amarillo, TX, his wife Trish, and their sons Heath Lovell of Denver, CO his wife Kylie, and their daughters Emmeline and Eleanor; and Ben Lovell of Albuquerque, NM.
Laura Taylor of Amarillo, TX, and her daughters Bristen Rodriguez of Amarillo, TX her husband Andrew and their daughters Caylor and Dayton; Nicole Blessen of Amarillo, TX her husband Colton and their daughters Finleigh and Reagan; and Tiffany Vandergriff of Houston, TX her husband Landry and son Davey.
Leslie Hawkins of McGregor, TX, her husband Randall, and children Jace Bennett of Amarillo, TX, his wife Jenna and daughter Brooklyn; Jancee Bennett of Austin; Jayton Bennett of Canyon, TX, his wife Paige and son Baker; Matthew Hawkins of Dallas, TX, his wife Sierra and daughter Maeve; Andrew Hawkins of Dallas, TX and his wife Taylor; and Michael Hawkins of San Antonio, TX.
Jesse Lovell of Claude, TX, his wife Amy and their children Mattie Kate Lovell of St. George, Utah, and Hunter Lovell of Claude, TX.
Carol Colunga of Irving, her husband Ricardo, and daughter Adriana Vincent and her husband, Randall.
Linda Wolever of Irving, her husband Kevin; their daughter Ari Wolever of North Richland Hills, TX, and her daughter Lily; and sons Jiles Wolever of Irving, TX and his wife Mandy, and their daughter Taya; and Lakin Wolever of Norman, OK.
Jenny Zeller of Irving, TX, her husband Bill, and their daughter Emma Zeller of Irving, TX; and son Evan Zeller and his wife Grace of Richland Hills, TX.
Jim is also survived by his brother, Joe T. Lovell of Claude, TX and his wife Shirley; and their daughters Leah Gregory and husband Mike of Rociada, NM, and their sons Grant Gregory, his wife Katie and daughters Clare and Sloan of Trementia, NM, Sam Gregory and his wife Shelby of Dalhart, TX and Gabe Gregory of Rociada, NM; and Sheila Jenkins and husband Kevin of New Braunfels, TX, son Ben Jenkins stationed in Pordenone, Italy, and daughter Brooke Jenkins of Nacogdoches, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Jim Lovell be made to a charity that embodies the strength, wise counsel, optimism, and hope that Jim provided to so many throughout his life.
To view the service online, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXm8f4HMO6o
