Roll Call Tribute

James Roy "Jim" Holcomb, III 

March 8, 1954 - June 27, 2023 

James (Jim) Roy Holcomb, III, joined his Heavenly Father in paradise on Tuesday, June 27th. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family, after a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jim was born to Roy and Hazel Holcomb on March 8, 1954. He graduated from Lanier High School before continuing his education at Texas A&M University. Jim graduated from Texas A&M in 1978 with a doctorate in veterinary medicine and headed to San Angelo. After a handful of years in San Angelo, Jim moved back home to Austin, where he met the love of his life, Lacy. Set up by his father and her mother, Jim and Lacy proved your parents know best. They married October 15, 1983. A year and a half later they welcomed their son, James (Taylor) Roy Holcomb, IV. A short fifteen months after, they welcomed their daughter, Haley.

After practicing for several years in south Austin, Jim opened Hill Country Animal Hospital in 1993 and became a mainstay in the Westlake community. He proved that hard work and a heart for people and his patients could build something beyond his wildest dreams. As has been reiterated multiple times by former and current pet parents, Dr. Holcomb was truly one of a kind.

Jim is reunited in death with his father, James Roy Holcomb, Jr., his mother, Hazel Holcomb, his mother-in-law, Carole Mullen, his brother-in-law, Larry Cobb, and his niece Audra Cobb.

Jim leaves behind in this life his loving wife of 40 years, Lacy (Mullen) Holcomb, his son James (Taylor) Roy Holcomb, IV, his daughter-in-law Erin, and his daughter Haley. Although he was always a proud and loving husband and father, Jim’s most treasured role was “Doc” to his three grandchildren, James (Jimmy) Roy Holcomb V, John David Holcomb, and Louisa “Lulu” Holcomb. Jim is also survived by his sister, Barbara Cobb, sister-in-law, Misty Tate, brother-in-law, Drew Tate, nephews Adam Cobb, Drew Tate, Jr., and Jax Tate, and nieces Anissa Cure (Doug) and Libby Tate.

Next to his family, Jim had two true loves. The Fighting Texas Aggies and the ranch. Jim grew up running cattle and ranching with his father and was able later in life to find his slice of heaven on earth at his ranches in San Saba, TX. He would say the only thing better than San Saba itself were the people.

Doc’s legacy lives on in his family, friends, colleagues, and community. It’s difficult to put into words the impact Doc left on every life he touched. A firm believer in Christ, we are comforted by the knowledge that Doc no longer feels pain, and we will be reunited together when we all get to heaven.

We cannot express enough our gratitude to all of our care team at Texas Oncology, specifically Amanda, Patty, Cessca, JoJo, Jessica, Karen, Anna, Ashley, and Dr. Rene Castillo. Thank you for always being our hope when hope was hard to find. We’d also like to thank Austin Hospice for the wonderful care and comfort they provided Doc in his final days on this earth.

A Celebration of Life honoring Jim will be held on Friday, July 7th at 1pm at All Saints Presbyterian Church located at 7808 Rialto Blvd, Austin, TX 78735.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the James Holcomb, DVM ‘78 Endowed Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine through Texas A&M University, https://www.txamfoundation.com/give.aspx 

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Holcomb family.

IN THE CARE OF
Cook-Walden Funeral Home