Obituary of James Cato

James (Jim) Frederick Cato, 83, left this life too soon on April 27, 2016. Funeral Service: 10 am Tuesday, Martin Thompson & Son Funeral Home, 6009 Wedgwood Dr., Ft. Worth. Interment: Peerless Cemetery, Peerless, Texas. Jim was born February 20, 1933, in Jacksonville, FL, to James B. and Dorothy Maxfield Cato. His mother passed away when Jim was a young child and he was raised by his father until his father was killed in an automobile accident. Upon his father’s death Jim moved to Fort Worth to live with his aunt and uncle Paul and Pauline Cato. Jim attended Paschal High School and graduated in 1952. It was at Pascal High School where Jim met the love of his life, Karold Mozelle Troxell. The two met in the school cafeteria. Jim was smitten with Karold but the feeling was not so much shared by Karold. Karold convinced Jim to go with a friend of hers on a double date. The next morning Karold’s friend left for Costa Rico, and Jim called Karold and they talked for over three hours. Jim and Karold finally married on January 25, 1952, and their marriage lasted for 64 years until Karold’s passing on February 1, of this year. Jim enrolled in Texas A&M in the fall of 1953, but was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War, and proudly served until his discharge in 1955. As luck would have it, Jim was assigned to serve in Panama and Karold accompanied on this tour of duty. During their time in Panama they were blessed with their only child, a son, James (Jimmie) F. Cato, II. After returning from Panama, Jim returned to Texas A&M University to study electrical engineering. Upon graduation in 1959, the couple moved to various cities where Jim was an engineer, eventually settling in North Richland Hills. Jim was a very talented musician playing steel guitar in many country western bands. He shared the stage with a young Willie Nelson at the old Panther Hall and played for many years at the Grapevine Opry in the house band. He began playing the steel as a teenager and played consistently until he suffered a cooking injury that cost him the use of his hand in his seventies. Jim’s stage nickname was “Tiny” Jim was a very civic minded person and served many years as a North Richland Hills City Councilman. Jim was preceded in death by his son, Jimmie, and beloved wife, Karold. Survivors: Brother-in-law H. L. (Duke) Troxell and wife Deborah, nephew Corey Allen Troxell and niece Amanda Leigh Troxell.