James Edward Starrett, 88, passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2010, after a short illness. Funeral: 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church. Interment: Moore Memorial Gardens. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Arlington Funeral Home. Memorials: The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Arlington Independent School District Scholarship Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Arlington and Mission Arlington. Each held a special place in his heart. James was born May 24, 1922, to Edward M. and Neugie Bowen Starrett in Reilley Springs, Hopkins County. After graduating at 15 from Reilly Springs High School and wanting to continue his baseball career, he transferred to Picton High School and played an additional year of ball for Picton! After serving in the Army Air Force from 1942 to 1946, James entered East Texas State College, now Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he earned his B.S. degree in business and an M.S. degree in school administration. After marrying Ada Buell in 1951, James taught school in Como, Texas, and then moved into school administration with the Pleasant Grove schools. Joining the Arlington Independent School District in 1956, as vice principal of Ousley Junior High in 1959, he was promoted to an administrative position as director of special services for the entire school district. After many years in administration, he returned to his first love of teaching and helping mold the youth of Arlington. He served as principal of Bess Rankin Elementary School and later the Tom and Maude Foster Elementary School. Upon his retirement in 1983, he continued to mentor many of the young teachers who had worked with him and for him during his years with the Arlington ISD. His door was always open and he was only a phone call away when they needed a good listener. In 1987 the Arlington Independent School District opened a new elementary school at 2675 Fairmont Drive in Grand Prairie and honored James by naming the new facility, James E. Starrett Elementary School. James considered himself a "lifetime" member of the First Baptist Church of Arlington, which he attended for 54 years. Many of those years he served as a greeter in a place close to his heart, the children's wing of the church, where he not only greeted the children and their parents, but visited and took part in their Sunday school classes. James enjoyed sports and continued to attend high school football and baseball games at every school in the Arlington ISD. He especially loved baseball and after retirement was seen for years at the old Arlington Baseball Park, assisting in numerous departments with a group of his former teaching buddies. Other than sports, his three grandchildren were the love of his life and he was happiest when they came to visit. He will be sorely missed by his "Rise and Shine" morning coffee group. Survivors: His wife, Ada; son, Steve Starrett of Sunset; daughter, Laura Bogard of Houston; grandchildren, Jesse and Dalton Starrett of West Jordan, Utah, and Blair Bogard Kveton and husband, Craig of Damon; a sister, Ragene Moore of Houston; and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.

Published in Star-Telegram on June 26, 2010