BURGAW — James “Jim” Alan Tarleton, born August 15, 1947, at home in Grove Hill, Alabama in the old Javis home on Whatley Road and passed away March 29, 2024, at home in Burgaw, NC.
It is noted that Jim wrote the following, his own obituary.
I had two brothers and three sisters, and I was second in line with an older sister. I spent a great deal of time with my grandfather, Bootsie Tarleton, who lived on the road to Walker Springs. We were very family oriented and had family gatherings at Bootsie’s home on many weekends. I seldom saw my father and knew very little about him, and my mother worked for the Clarke County Democrat. She and Mr. George Carleton were very good friends. I hung around the Democrat office as often as I could. I also had a paper route (not the Democrat).
Grove Hill was the ultimate little town complete with a town square. I was related to a big portion of the community. Grove Hill was a rough little town; my own grandfather was murdered. Growing up in Grove Hill was an education within itself. If you could afford a new car every year, you would be considered wealthy. We were as poor as one could get.
My mother was Shrille Mae Jarvis and my father, Willie Clauselle Tarleton. My mother hated Grove Hill, and we moved to Starkville, Mississippi (home of Mississippi State University) in 1963. I graduated with a master’s degree in engineering. I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1969 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. I had three careers, one in the oil and gas industry, one in uranium mining industry, and one in the renewable Fuels industry. I married twice. I have three daughters and one son, Kyle Grothues, all by different mothers to whom I married only one. I now have a young great granddaughter who is adorable. Special and loyal friends are Patrick and Tessa Rivenbark and their son, Daley.
I had a very active life. I would work for four years and quit for a year. I once spent a year on a south Texas ranch by myself, The Frankie Ranch on the old Eagle Pass Road between Eagle Pass and Uvalde, Texas. I spent a couple of years as a non-commissioned deputy sheriff in Dewitt County, Texas under Sheriff Wayne Mills. I lived most of my adult life in Corpus Christi, Texas. I was a beach bum on the weekends. I retired to the small community of Burgaw, NC in 2010. I lived on a non-working small farm with my dog, Boo (now deceased) and my horse Niki (now sold).
A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. Merrell McKoy conducting the service. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the funeral home following the service.
In lieu of flowers it is suggested that you consider a memorial gift to Pender County Humane Society, PO Box 626, Burgaw, NC 28425.
Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family here.
