Roll Call Tribute

James E. "Jim" Jett

October 10, 1944 - January 22, 2023

Jim Jett of College Station, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023, at his beloved Camp Creek Lake House. Visitation will begin at 12 p.m., until the time of the Life Tribute Celebration at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 28, at Christ Church. Interment will be private. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.

The 78 years of Jim Jett's life are a story marked by faith and by family. At times the story below, we tell of Jim may seem bigger than life itself. But anyone who knew our dad knows at times he was prone to "Jett Facts" - directionally accurate accounts leaving enough room to turn a tale from good to great. Our dad was an incredible man, and here's his story, Jett Facts and all.

James Earnest Bagley was born October 10, 1944 ("Ten Ten Forty Four") in Houston, Texas to Alfred Earnest "Ernie" Bagley and Katherine Barbara "Bobbie" Bagley.

Before turning one, Jim lost his father in World War II. Ernie was a University of California Berkeley graduate with a Geology/Astronomy degree, a great head of hair, and a ticket punched to South America to explore the growing energy sector. He was known to be a phenomenal athlete, a funny and inquisitive guy, and an outdoor enthusiast - all traits that were passed onto his son. Most importantly - and as evidenced by Ernie's journal that Jim found in his final months – Ernie was deeply in love with his wife and adoring of his newborn son. Despite a life apart, Ernie acted as a guiding light through Jim's remarkable journey and imprinted on Jim a lifelong adoration and support of those who serve our country. Following Ernie's passing, Bobbie showed Jim how to pick yourself up and write the story of the life you want no matter the circumstance.

Bobbie remarried Verl Jett Sr., an Army Air Force Colonel who was assigned overseas and moved the family to Lakenheath AFB, England. Dad would enroll in an English boarding school, where he developed a love of poetry, the original football (soccer), and famously showed the English cricket players how a Yankee properly throws a ball. He learned discipline, respect, and developed a strong sense of independence while away at school.

After spending dad's formative years in Bury St. Edmunds, the family transferred back to the States to Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, TX, where dad brought with him a love for shepherd's pie and figgy pudding, and a pretty thick British accent. His high school years cemented his love for the great State of Texas and is when he developed some of his longest lasting friendships out of Arlington Heights High School.

Throughout life, where others saw serendipity, Jim Jett saw the work of God. That played out in the early 1960s, when Colonel Koenig, an Aggie neighbor, told Jim that he should look into Texas A&M University. At age 17, armed with Colonel Koenig's advice and the self-sufficiency learned at Bury St Edmunds boarding school, Jim Jett collected spare parts, built his own car, and drove to College Station. Once there, he enrolled in the Corps of Cadets and became part of a brotherhood that would last a lifetime – with friends turned business partners turned family. He was everything A&M stood for and reflected the Core Values – including Integrity, Service, Leadership, and a fighting spirit. He left A&M not as "Jim Jett" but as "Jim Jett's Class of '66" - and proudly wore his Aggie ring embedded with his mother's wedding diamond until his final days.

And while A&M remained forever a part of dad's story, his greatest chapter began as he closed his time at A&M when he married and became a dad to Julie for the first time. For anyone who's ever crossed paths with Jim Jett – whether stepping foot in his office or giving him too long of a window in a passing conversation – they will walk away knowing his kids were his central pride and joy.

Jim Jett became a young dad to Julie, then Jennifer, and eventually his namesake, Jimmy. He filled their childhoods with a sense of wonder for the outdoors - whether snow skiing the Rocky Mountains, water skiing with one of the girls on his shoulders, packing a trunk for summer camp, or camping with Jimmy with hand-carved walking sticks. Later it was Lisa and Ashley, where he continued to create a childhood full of life lessons and laughter. He instilled in them his drive and love of soccer, and became the winningest youth coach in South Texas – just ask him. You can see dad in all of his kids, his wit, sense of adventure, creativity, and most importantly his faith. He gave them all the greatest gift, a heritage marked by an unwavering love and devotion to his savior, Jesus Christ.

The father of five children was a father figure to an entire community. Many reading this, from his nieces and nephews in California and Utah, to local kids in College Station, likely grew up with Jim Jett simply calling them 'kiddo', which meant you made the cut. He was an active member of PTO and continually raised funds for CSISD through 50 Men Who Can Cook. He invested his parenting style into the value of education for his children – with his Aggie evangelism leading his five children to the University of Texas, the University of Texas again, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Arizona – "not an Aggie in the bunch" dad would say. Dad had tremendous pride not just in his five kids, but eventually the eight grandkids to follow, and finally his first great-grandchild born in April of 2022.

Dad's love of adventure eventually led him to a scuba diving lesson in town, where he met his wife of the last 40 years, Gina. Dad talked about how brilliant she was, and how well they compliment each other - a sentiment proven out over a loving partnership at home, in business, and in having Lisa and Ashley to complete the blended family. Mom always kept dad in check - telling him when to bow out of a party when he was getting chatty, or helping teach her daughters to spell, the American way. And she stuck by dad's side - the backbone of the family - dad's right hand through cancer, and his left hand through the second cancer, where MD Anderson learned that the term 'visiting hours' don't apply to her.

In addition to his family, Dad truly valued community - from the time he arrived in College Station, dad was dedicated to helping build a great community in the place he loved and would raise a family. He found his passion in real estate and had an eye for what many couldn't see, resulting in both residential and commercial developments that would become a family home to hundreds, and a place where growing businesses would thrive. From Woodlake Estates, Quail Run Estates, Briarcrest Commons to the Aggieland Business Park, he was the general partner on paper but mostly a loving friend who was proud to make every deal a 'win-win.' His fingerprints are all over the Brazos Valley in the developments he created, the mentorship he provided others in his field, and especially in his work giving back to the community through many organizations. Just as he arrived back in College Station in his 20s, he became a young member of the Jaycees, and the Lions Club; he later became a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Foundation. Alongside his contributions to the growth of the community, he poured his heart into organizations that focused on the people living here and especially those who helped spread the word of Jesus. He saw the life-giving ministries of Global Outreach and poured his heart and soul into raising funds and spreading the word for the international ministry. He joined the board of Habitat for Humanity, chartered Young Life Brazos Valley and was a proud member of the Aggie Veterans Mentoring Program.

We trust that Jim Jett's family and friends will find overwhelming joy in having known him in this life and through these stories. And we look forward to the conversations we'll have with our dad through prayer and reflection - because every now and then 'it sure is good to get word from heaven.'

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Earnest "Ernie" Bagley and Katherine Barbara "Bobbie" Jett. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Gina. He is also survived by his daughter, Julie Jett West and her husband, Glen West; his daughter, Jennifer Jett Sieracki and her husband, David Sieracki; his son, James E. 'Jimmy' Jett Jr. and his wife, Cori Hughes Jett; his daughter, Lisa Maree Jett; his daughter, Ashley Jett Vernon and her husband, Tim Vernon; his granddaughters, Gracie West Buro and her husband, Michael Buro; and great-grandson, Hank, Gretchen West Yeager and her husband, Erik Yeager, Elizabeth Joy Jett (Ellie) and Hope Katherine Jett; his grandsons, Kyle Jett Sieracki, Kaden David Sieracki, Koltin James Sieracki and Luke Bagley Jett; and his sister, Carolyn Jett Calmes; and brother, Verl Jett; and many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Jim's name be made to one of the following: James Ernest Bagley Jett Scholarship Fund for Veterans through the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station 77840. wwwgive.am/JimJettMemorial; or habitat for Humanity Global Outreach