James "Jim" Roy Dildine

James Roy Dildine, age 83 of Gatesville, passed from this life on March 19, 2026 while residing in the Memory Care Unit at Coryell Health.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026 at First Methodist Church of Gatesville with Pastor Stephen Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Miller Creek Cemetery, located at 2403 Miller Creek Cemetery Road, Johnson City, Texas. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Jim was born August 16, 1942 in Blanco, Texas to Bernice and Lee Roy Dildine. He attended Dripping Springs High School and graduated as salutatorian in 1960. He worked as a staff resource analyst for IBM in Austin for 25 years and upon retirement from IBM worked another 5 years for Dell Computers.

Jim met Carol May on a chaperoned blind date in 1997. Although they met late in life they were together from that first date. They were married in Hawaii and traveled extensively over the years, visiting 48 of the 50 states. Together they accomplished his dream of owning a ranch and raising registered Spanish Mustang horses and registered longhorn cattle. Jim also wanted to include buffalo but Carol put her foot down and that didn’t happen. They were active members of the Mooreville Methodist Church for 15 years while living on the ranch before health issues forced them to downsize. Upon moving to Gatesville they joined the First Methodist Church and were welcomed into that community in 2013.

Jim loved traditional country music, old westerns, dancing, building log cabins, anything made of cedar and visiting with his many friends. He could talk for hours about some of his adventures which included being support crew for a team in the Great Santa Fe Trail Race and Endurance Ride.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ronald Gene Dildine; his sisters, Jo Helen Harshfield and Norma Dull; his grandson, Roy James Dildine; and his daughter, Sonya Leigh Dildine.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Carol Lee Dildine; his brothers, Charles Lee Dildine and wife Mary, and Robert Dudley Dildine; his daughter, Shelley Canon; his stepdaughter, Lorraine Thompson and husband Brent; his grandson, Devin Canon; his granddaughters, Amber Canon and Christina Beard; his great grandsons, Adriel, Khy, Zaylen, and Jon; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Jim’s honor may be made to the First Methodist Church of Gatesville, 2600 E. Main Street, Gatesville, Texas 76528.