James D. Patton

James D. (Jim) Patton, 86, of Waco, Texas passed away peacefully at his home on October 30, 2026, from Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 10, at the Patton Family Home. A Celebration of Life will be held beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, near Cranfills Gap. Please contact family members for the address.

Jim was born on January 10, 1940, in Tifton, GA to J.D. and Inez Patton. He grew up in Georgia, where he developed a deep appreciation [for] good horses and good dogs. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Husbandry and received a Master’s in Animal Genetics at the University of Florida. He went on to live out his dream of ‘cowboying,’ managing ranches in Florida, New Mexico and Arizona before retiring to his own ranch in Hamilton County, Texas and later in Bosque County, Texas. Jim managed ranches his entire professional life and cared deeply about stewarding the land and practicing animal husbandry.

Jim was a generous provider who loved and enjoyed his children, sharing with them his love of nature and teaching them the importance of leaving your world better off than you found it. He made lasting friendships everywhere he lived. Jim was known and loved by his family and friends as a talented saddlemaker, sketch artist, woodworker, horse and dog trainer, cattleman, and chuckwagon cook (especially sourdough biscuits!). Jim worked hard on developing and training good all-around ranch horses, who were his partners. His horses could drag calves, sort cattle on an open mesa top, or just ride trails in the mountains, and be a pleasure to ride. He could heel calves all day, ride a young colt, or fix anything that was broke on a remote ranch, including a sick or injured horse or cow. Jim believed that “if you want something, you have to earn it or build it,” and he passed that value on to his children.

In 1991, Jim met and married the love of his life, Ann Stiles, and they have been inseparable ever since. Jim and Ann were happiest spending their days horseback.

Jim is survived by Ann; his 4 children and their spouses: Peney Patton and George Cobb, James and Marina Patton, Catherine and Paul Patterson, and Scott and Kerry Patton; 8 grandchildren and spouses: Noel and Cody Cole, Rachel Calvert and Chris Yarborough, Laura and Patrick Miller, Ben Cobb, Justyne and Tyler Terry, Dalton and Brittany Patton, James and Kalyn Cobb, and Wesley Patterson; and 9 great-grandchildren.

The Patton family is grateful for the thoughtful, professional, and compassionate care Jim received from Right at Home of Waco and Providence Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at lbda.org

We invite you to leave a message or memory of Jim in his “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.