James "Jim" Vinson Bennett

James “Jim” Vinson Bennett, 85 of Dumas left this earth on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 surrounded by  family and loved ones. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2 o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at First Christian Church with Rev. Darrell Wait, officiating. Interment will follow at Northlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock in the evening on Wednesday.  Arrangements are entrusted to Beeson ~ Morrison Funeral Directors.

Jim was born on January 11, 1938 in Amarillo, TX to Jesse and Loretta (Delaney) Bennett. He was raised in Dumas and graduated from Dumas High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Virginia “Jeanie” Corbin on January 24, 1959 in the First Christian Church in Dumas. They recently celebrated their 64^th anniversary. He graduated from West Texas State University in May 1962 as they were expecting their first daughter who was born in September in Dumas. In that time they made the move to Santa Fe and ran a truck stop and wrecker service for 5 years. Their 2^nd child was born in Santa Fe in 1966. In 1967 they moved back to Dumas to be closer to family where their last child was born in 1969.

Jim and his wife owned and operated a truck stop, The Ly’n Bragg Truck Stop as well as several other businesses. Jim was active in the Boy Scouts as a troop leader and awarded the Silver Beaver Award. He was also active in the community where he had served as a member of the Dumas ISD school board and the Dumas Noon lions club. James was also a golf enthusiast and had played many times in the DD Ryder Cup. At the top of his game he won the GTE Byron Nelson Classic Champions Pro-Am in 1998. He loved his time caddying and watching his friend Tom Lehman  and his family.

Jim served on many church mission trips to Mexico with various friends such as Chuck Dillow, Mike Milam and Al Baer. He loved hunting and fishing with one of his best friends, Dan Turner. He had many adventures including a mule and horseback expedition in New Mexico with Joel and Cindy, his brother, and his kids. During the last 20 years he enjoyed watching his kids, grandchildren in various activities they were involved in. In addition he also enjoyed the Senior Citizen Center lunches with the people there.

In his later years, he loved using his new phone to call all his friends and loved ones; he especially loved learning “copy paste” in social media.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Lolly Bennett; niece: Jennifer J. Mills.

Jim is survived by his wife, Virginia “Jeanie” Corbin Bennett; children: Cari Caye Miller and husband Rick, Joel Vincent Bennett and wife Lilia, Lucinda “Cindy” Rhoades and husband Rowdy; special nephew: Charles “Chuck" Dillow and wife April; special niece: Loretta “Lorie” Milam and husband Mike; sister: Mary Alice McLarty and husband Cali Romero; brother: Chuck Bennett and wife Helen; grandchildren: Megan and Trey Lusk, Morgan Miller and Kris Evans, Jace and Jenna Bennett, Jancee Bennett, Jayton and Paige Bennett, Christian Rhoades, Chelby Rhoades, Corbin Dillow, Scott and Danielle Milam, Jason and Amanda Milam, DJ Hidrago, Michael Hidrago and wife Shelby, Jae Hidrago and Slate Miller;  great-grandchildren: Watson Milam, Evelyn and Joyce Milam, Grayson and Jaxton Lusk, Brooklyn Bennett and Baker Bennett, Brantley, Karsyn, Desirae, Jericho, Jueli, Kashlynn, Michael, Kannon, Vada; along with numerous other family members and friends.