08/03/2026
James William Boyd Fredrick Richmond, known to most as James or Jim was born on July 3, 1941, in Grants Pass, Oregon at Josephine General Hospital to James Richmond and Gertrude Marion Dagney Richmond, and passed away on July 27, 2026, in Odessa, Texas, from natural causes related to age, and many life events that shaped a long and meaningful journey.
Jim lived a life marked by steady work, good humor, and a faith that carried him through every season. He was not a deeply religious man, identified privately as a Christian who believed in the goodness of God, the value of hard work, and the importance of showing up with a smile, even when the day was demanding.
Those who knew him would say he had a friendly spirit, an analytical mind, and hands that could fix just about anything worth fixing. He was the kind of man who could size up a problem, scratch his head for a moment, and then get to work as if the solution had been waiting on him all along.
His working life began early, when he took on the honest hustle of a paperboy. That first job likely taught him more than how to fold a newspaper. It taught him responsibility, persistence, and the value of getting up and going, rain or shine. He later spent many years in the lumber industry, where he became a highly recognized spreader man in plywood, a role he held with real pride. He did not just work there. He took ownership of it. He knew the value of a job done right, and he carried that same attitude into everything that followed. If plywood had a hall of fame, Jim would have had a reserved seat and definitely a story to tell about it.
In the late 1970s, Jim moved with his lovely wife, Annie Bell, known to many as Ann, to west Texas, where life opened a new chapter for them both. He entered oil field work alongside his brother-in-law and until an accident gave him a new direction. Even then, he did not lose heart. He adapted, as strong men often do, and found his way into work at a local convenience store for a time before moving into machine fabrication. He remained there until retirement, continuing to build, repair, and contribute with the same practical skill and dependable nature that had always defined him. He was the kind of man who could look at a machine and seem to know whether it needed encouragement, a wrench, or both.
Even deep into retirement you could find Jim with a tool in hand repairing something inside or outside home. Most recently replacing bathroom faucets and entry door with the determination and tenacity that defined much of his life.
Jim’s interests were simple in the best possible way, and they were the kinds of things that made for a full life. Fishing, hunting, gold panning, and billiards topped the list of what was most dear to his heart. He appreciated the quiet patience of a fishing line, the focus of a hunt, the thrill of finding a little or a lot gold, and the friendly competition of a good billiards table. He understood that some of life’s best moments are found outdoors, in the company of good people, or in the satisfying sound of a ball dropping cleanly into a pocket. He also knew that a little mischief and a lot of laughter could make any day better. His sense of humor was part of his gift to the people around him. Jim had a way of making others laugh without ever trying too hard. He could be wise and witty in the same breath, and he had that rare ability to say something plain that somehow landed like a punchline. In a world that can take itself far too seriously, he brought a cheerful reminder that joy is holy too. As Bob Hope once said, “A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.” Jim would likely have smiled at that one, because he understood the kind of truth that comes wrapped in a laugh.
He leaves behind a legacy work ethic, and good-natured resilience and faith. He was a man who did not need grand speeches to be remembered. His life spoke for him through the steady way he worked, the warmth he gave, and the honest character he carried. He was friendly without pretense, analytical without being cold, and handy in the truest sense of the word. He could solve problems, tell stories, and likely improve a situation before most people had finished explaining it.
Now, in the mercy of God, Jim rests from his labors. We trust that the Lord God who guided him through every road, every job, every challenge, and every good laugh has him in His memory. May he be remembered with gratitude, spoken of with affection, and missed with the kind of love that only grows stronger with time. His journey was long, his work was meaningful, while being deeply personal and private person he was a light to those who knew him. In the end, he leaves us with a simple and beautiful lesson: live honestly, work hard, laugh often, and trust God all the way through, even if you struggle to understand what it all means.
He is preceded in death by parents; his wife of 49 years, Annie Bell; as well as his sister Martha Ann.
James is survived by his children Lani Jean Richmond Elvenia, James David Richmond, John Gibb Richmond, and step-daughter Donna Sue Snellgrove; his grandchildren Kristin J DeLor, Dustin Victor DeLor, Tyler James & Michael Austin Birabent, Ryan Richmond, and Bradley Snellgrove; as well as his great grandchildren Katrina G J Fitts, Silas DeLor and more.
A Graveside Service will be held for James 10am, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, Texas.
