James "Jim" Tinkler

James “Jim” Thomas Tinkler father and grandfather took his last ride April 3, 2022, at the age of 85.  Jim was born September 6, 1936, in Fort Stockton, Texas to Emerson “Tink” and Effie Mae Courtney Tinkler and had one sister Mary Elizabeth Tinkler.

Jim grew up in Fort Stockton and attended school there.  Jim spent most of his childhood on the family ranch west of Fort Stockton, Texas.  He would tell of how he got to and from school.  He would ride a horse to meet the bus each morning, once there tying the reins around the horse’s neck and the horse would go back home.  At the end of the day his father (Emerson) would ride up to the road and meet him.  As Jim would say “You really have to love school to attend that way.”  He hated school.  Jim told many other stories of school but that is the one that stays with you.

Jim was later drafted into the Army where he spent most of his time in Germany.  While in Germany, he drove a transport truck hauling fuel to tanks.  He made several lifelong friends while in the Army.  Jim was drafted a second time.  On his second deployment, he was offered a job going to helicopter school and becoming an officer.  He turned them down and thus avoided going to Vietnam.  All he wanted to do was return to the ranch.

In 1967 he married the love of his life Sandi Tinkler.  They were married for 54 years until her passing in 2021.  Jim and Sandi carved out a life together in Fort Stockton, Texas.  Later in life Jim and Sandi moved to the ranch after the passing of his mother.  They remained there together until Jim fell and broke his hip.  That was the last time Jim was at the ranch.   The greatest accomplishment of Jim’s life was the birth of his only son Emerson Wayne Tinkler in 1972 who he always called “Feller”.

Jim was a great husband, father, grandfather, and one of the best friends a person could have.  Jim was one of the most caring people you wanted to meet.  He had a love for being on the family ranch.  He loved raising cows, goats, and horses and working with his hands.  One of Jim’s favorite sayings, which he had many, was “It is always up to the next generation to make things better.”  He would always brag about how he never bought a cow no matter how many he had to sell in dry years.  He would tell of how when the family moved from Kansas to Fort Stockton, Texas, they brought Galloway Cattle with them.  The recent herd of cattle can be linked back to the original cattle that came from Kansas.  Jim never had much, nor did he want much, at the end of the day he was happy with life.

The next era of Jim’s life entailed what became one of his biggest hobbies, cooking on the family chuckwagon.  The old family wagon that brought the Tinklers from Kansas was in very bad condition. Jim took the wagon and rebuilt it at the ranch.   Along the way Jim began to learn how to cook using Dutch ovens. What he was most famous for was his Dutch Oven biscuits.   Anyone that knew Jim would tell you they looked forward to getting one of them famous biscuits.  From there Jim and his son took the wagon to a few competitions which he enjoyed but never won.  Every year it was his highlight to take the wagon to the 5th grade field days at Belding Farms.  There he would teach the kids of wagon life and how to cook using Dutch ovens.  Every kid that came through would get to sample those famous biscuits.

When Jim got older and had turned the family ranch over to his son, he began to restore old chairs.  He would take the old mule ear chairs, paint them, and then stretch rawhide for a seat.  He also loved raising black Spanish goats.  In 2005 Jim had a grandson James Eldon Tinkler.  He loved James very much.  When James was at the ranch, they would go on adventures to the goat pen in “Papa’s hooker truck” as James called it.   When Jim would talk about James he would smile and say, “He is the 5th generation on the ranch.”    Jim was unable to get in the pens and work cows at this point, but he never missed a branding or shipping day.  He would come and tell stories of his life and the old days.  While he was telling the stories the cowboys would listen with pure content.  Jim had many friends, and each friend had a personal story to go along.  Jim was a simple man with a simple life, but he enjoyed every part of it to its fullest.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Emerson “Tink” and Effie Mae Tinkler, and by his wife of 54 years, Sandi Tinkler.

Jim is survived by his son Wayne Tinkler, wife Beverly and son James of Fort Stockton, Texas.  Jim is also survived by his sister Mary Elliott of Midland, Texas.

The graveside services for Jim will be held at 10 am, Thursday April 7th, 2022, at East Hill Cemetery in Fort Stockton, Texas.

Jim would always say “Let Them Buttons do It.” Daddy, us “Buttons” have it done here!!!!!!

In lieu of flowers or to make a donation please send them to:

TSSRM-Youth Range Workshop

PO Box 931

Canyon, Texas 79015-0931

In Memory of Jim Tinkler .