James "Hambone" Hamby

Funeral service for James "Hambone" Hamby, 75, of Nacogdoches will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home with Bill Shaw officiating.  Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will beheld from 10:00am - 11:00am on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 prior to the service.

James was born and raised in the New Hope Community, just outside of Nacogdoches, where he forever called home.  He loved East Texas and was a true country boy.  He grew up with the greatest of values taught to him by his parents.  James has always been a cowboy and the true epitome of what a young, East Texas fella was expected to be.  James attended and graduated from Woden High School.   He was a member of the FFA Rodeo Team and as a youngster, he was deemed the “best little league catcher” under Coach Pete Smith.   However, the best thing that came from his young years, was meeting the woman of his dreams.  James and Pam met under the big oak tree at NHS and were beside each other for the rest of their lives.  They married on September 2, 1966 at New Hope Church and have spent a very memorable 56 years together.  James’ love of horses, rodeo and simple country living were exactly what Pam loved about him. Together, they raised a beautiful family and taught them the same core values bestowed upon them as children.  Through the years, James became a very talented farrier and welder but his passion was leather work.  He was honest, true to his friends and dedicated to what he loved the most, his family.  James and Pam loved entertaining and if James was there, the laughter was abundant.  James thought his life was complete with having children.  However, when the perfect grandchildren came along, he knew he was wrong.  The grands were the apple of his eye and he doted on them every chance he got.  He and Pam followed them, just as they did with Kelley and James, to everything they were involved in from athletic events to school functions.  And when he became a great grandfather, his heart overflowed with love that only grandchildren can bring.    

Although he stayed busy with kids and grandkids, James’ dedication to “the cowboy way” was ever prevalent.  He continued to ride and break horses, raised his family to be involved in all the events, and when the man he loved dearly, Uncle Son Summers passed away, he proudly carried on the family tradition of being Shawnee Hill Trail Boss.  His love of horses and rodeo also led to him being interviewed on RFD TV on “Special Moments” of which he was very proud of doing. 

James was a man of many talents.  He spent 43 years with Lufkin Industries; he was proud to be associated with all things “Nacogdoches” including the firefighters, PRCA Mutton Bustin, Brookshire Brothers Breakfast Club and King’s Highway Country Church family.  “Hambone”, as most knew him, enjoyed visits from anyone who would stop by and was always willing to lend a hand.  He will forever be remembered as the cowboy he was but will never be forgotten as the husband, Daddy, Pawpaw, brother, uncle, cousin and friend that everyone wanted as their own.  

James is survived by his best friend and wife, Pam Hamby; daughter, Kelley Riggins and husband, Richard; son, James Hamby and wife, Belinda; grandchildren, Courtney Stroud and husband, Jesse, Kaelea Christopher and husband, Ronnie, Katelyn Riggins, Haley Metteauer and Hunter Metteauer; great grandchildren, Harper and Jack Stroud and Saige and Sayler Thomas; brother, Walter Hamby and wife, Barbara; sister, Clara Mae Ferguson; brother-in-law, Sonny Humphreys and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews that he loved dearly.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Walter and Jennie Louise Hamby; brothers and sisters-in law, Bobby and Beth Humphreys, Eletha Humphreys and Bill Ferguson.

Serving as pallbearers will be James Hamby, Richard Riggins, Jesse Stroud, Ryan Jeffcoat, Travis Humphreys, Bobby Lynn Humphreys, Kent O’Neal and Mike Tarpley.  Honorary pallbearers include Ronnie Christopher, Bobby Nabors, Sam Cain, Robert Cain, Tony Dawson, Mike Putnam, Mike Wilson, Ronnie Tubbe, Cullen Reynolds and Jodie Reynolds.

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