James "Jim" Ray Dunlap
7/22/1945 - 4/27/2017

James (Jim) Dunlap, born July 22, 1945 in Ft Warren, WY passed away Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Houston, TX after a short battle with cancer. Jim was born to Floyd and Donna Faye Dunlap in Ft Warren, WY on July 22, 1945. As a child, they lived in Kincaid, KS where both sets of grandparents had farms. Jim moved to Texas City, TX when he was 8 years old. He graduated from Texas City High School in 1963 and graduated from The University of Houston in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He worked at Union Carbide in the summers and carpentry work with his step father, Chet Likely. After a year of Graduate School, he worked as a Senior Research Chemist for Dow Chemical Company in Lake Jackson for eleven years where he obtained 3 patents in the area of urethane technology to improve the carpet industry. In an effort to not to move his family to Michigan, Jim went into the Police Academy on a suggestion of a dear friend. In 1980 Jim became a Lake Jackson police officer. In his 28 years on the police force in Lake Jackson, he was given numerous awards including Lake Jackson Officer of the Year Brazoria County 100 Club and was selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in 1998, which he completed with a GPA of 4.0. His many accomplishments in his career with the City of Lake Jackson include establishing the Lake Jackson Police Department crime lab and organizing the Citizens Police Academy program in 1993 in Lake Jackson. The CPA program was near and dear to his heart, so much so that some of his very good friends were from the Alumni association. Jim retired in 2008 as Assistant Police Chief for the City of Lake Jackson. Jim enjoyed about 3 weeks of retirement before joining the Brazoria County Sherriff's department. He worked as courthouse security in the Brazoria County Courthouse for about a year, and then he worked as an investigator for the District Attorney's Office for about three years when he retired again in 2013. Then he became the bailiff for the Grand Jury at the County Courthouse. Shortly after moving to Lake Jackson, Jim became a Volunteer for the Lake Jackson Fire Department. He served as a fireman for over 30 years and it is where he earned the nickname 'Spanky' and was the Assistant Fire Marshall for 5+ of those years. Many of his lifelong friends were met in the fire department. Jim enjoyed his gardening over the years and he taught his kids how to garden. In his 'retirement years' you could always find him at Reifel's in Brazoria talking about the different plants with anyone who was interested. He also enjoyed canning and he enlisted all the kids' help when they were younger, especially for snapping green beans and hulling peas. When his girls were younger, he helped coach their softball teams and would practice in the backyard with them when he could. Jim loved to BBQ and smoke meat and he shared many of his secrets with his sons in-law. Once all the kids were grown, Jim and Nancie bought a motorhome and started camping with their friends as well as visiting their grown children. Jim has always enjoyed fishing and hunting throughout his life, too. Jim and Nancie have lived on the San Bernard River for many years and having his grandkids in town, playing on the river and fishing for catfish in his pond gave him the greatest joys. Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Faye Miller, his father, Floyd Albert Dunlap; his step fathers, Chester Likely and Eddie Miller. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Nancie and children: Eric Dunlap of Houston, TX; Kristan Taylor and husband, Greg of Wake Forest, NC; Melissa Richter of Lake Jackson, TX and Alexis Wolford and husband, Dennis of Pearland, TX and Grandchildren: Chase and wife, Morgan; Taylor, Sydney, Laura, Daniel, Cora and Brelynn. And his beloved dog, Chico. A Memorial Service honoring Jim's life will be held at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, May 12, 2017 in the sanctuary of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 300 Willow Drive, Lake Jackson, TX 77566. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim's memory be sent to Lake Jackson Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (LJCPAAA) c/o Castelberry Insurance 201-A That Way St, Lake Jackson, TX 77566 (979-239-7769) or to Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department 10 Oak Dr, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.

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