James Garry Littlejohn  1940-2023

A loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

James Garry Littlejohn, 83, passed peacefully Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 in Tyler. Garry was born April 9, 1940 in Kilgore to Floyd Noble Littlejohn and Marcelle Bynum Littlejohn. He had been residing in Holly Lake Ranch north of Tyler since 1991. Garry enjoyed the scenery, wildlife and most of all the golf that Holly Lake provided for him and his late wife Sharon Littlejohn.

Garry attended grade school in Kilgore before moving to Midland, where he attended school through the 11th grade. He transferred to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M. for his senior year, then continued into the institute’s junior college program and played on the golf team for two years. Following his sophomore year at NMMI, Garry received a golf scholarship to Texas Tech University. He played golf there for two more years before graduating with his bachelor’s degree. While at Texas Tech Garry qualified for the 1961 National Amateur to be played at Pebble Beach in California. This is one of his fondest memories as he competed in a field that featured none other than Jack Nicklaus, the winner of the event that year, and who would go on to become a professional golf icon for the ages.

After Texas Tech, Garry worked in the Permian Basin Oil Field with his father for many years, owning and operating their own chemical business. In 1976 Garry, along with his family, moved to Pittsburg. They would live there for the next 13 years while Garry began a career with Farm Bureau as an insurance agent, then quickly becoming an agency manager. Garry worked for Farm Bureau for 15 years, serving as an agency manager for many East Texas counties prior to retiring in 1995. 

In retirement, Garry committed his time to volunteering at the prison located in Winnsboro, where he wrote and implemented a parenting curriculum to help counsel the inmates. He also dedicated many hours of service to the Child Advocacy of East Texas, served for 20 years on the Harmony ISD school board and was a member of the Kiwanis Club. But his best times were spent traveling, playing golf or working in the yard with his wife Sharon of 47 years, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Garry is survived by his son, James Garry Littlejohn II and wife Paula of Lewisville; son, J.B. Littlejohn and wife Corie of Holly Lake Ranch; five grandchildren, Kristine Littlejohn (Plano), Jay Littlejohn and wife Brittney (Richardson), and Makena Littlejohn, Kyler Littlejohn and Cooper Littlejohn (Holly Lake); two great-grandchildren, Jessica Littlejohn (Plano) and James Littlejohn (Richardson); and brother-in-law, Jimmy Olds (Marble Falls).

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Olds Littlejohn.

Visitation was scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Lowe-Gardner Funeral Home in Quitman. The service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Holly Brook Baptist Church of Holly Lake Ranch. Burial will follow at the Holly Tree Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers are Jim Littlejohn, J.B. Littlejohn, Jay Littlejohn, Billy Rushing, Jeremy Taylor and Jay Murdock.