Roll Call Tribute

Jimmy Dean Dye 

June 3, 1936 - August 21, 2024 

Jimmy Dye, 88 of Breckenridge, Texas passed away surrounded by his family on August 21, 2024. The Dye family will welcome friends for a visitation at 1pm, August 24th at the Elliott Street Church of Christ Activity Center. A private family burial will be held at the Gunsight Cemetery.

Jimmy Dean Dye was born June 3, 1936, in Breckenridge, Texas. He was the second son of Graden and Pauline Dye. Until he was 18, he lived with his family in the Gunsight community 13 miles south of Breckenridge enjoying all the pleasures of country living. Hunting, fishing and swimming were some of his favorite pastimes plus enjoying his next-door neighbors, John and Mollie Dye (Pa and Granny to him).

While attending South Ward School, Jimmy became interested in scouting and continued as an Explorer Scout throughout high school. His interests were football and tennis, and he served as FFA President and President of the student body before graduating in May 1954. His summers were occupied for the next few years teaching swimming and lifeguarding at Arthur Miller Park where he and Mike Hagler managed the swimming pool and co-owned the miniature golf course, archery range and concession stand, making money to pay for college.

In September 1954 Jimmy entered Texas A&M College in College Station, Texas. He majored in Mechanical Engineering and lettered on the A&M Swimming Team. He was a member of the 1957 Southwest Conference Championship Team.

Jimmy married Nancy Post September 1, 1956. He continued his college education for the next two and a half years. Following his graduation at Texas A&M with a Mechanical Engineering Degree he returned to Breckenridge as an employee of R. E. Dye Manufacturing Corporation. To learn the business, Jimmy worked briefly as a machinist, later as General Manager, Secretary-Treasurer, President and CEO of the firm. He learned most about the business from his uncle, R. E. Dye, who was the owner and founder of the business.

Outside the business, Jimmy and R. E. (Eddie) shared many years of flying together, and Jimmy earned his private and multi-engine pilot’s licenses in 1962.

Jimmy served as a director for Texas American Bank, is a past president of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank Albany/Breckenridge. He was an active member of the Elliott Street Church of Christ, where he taught Bible classes and served as a Deacon since 1976 as an Elder.

In 1993 at the death of his uncle, R. E. Dye, Jimmy purchased the business. His two sons, Coby and Steve, work in the business. His grandchildren, Kathryne (Dye) Rusche, Michael Dye and James Dye all worked there for a while. Through the years Jimmy purchased some land near his home place where he raised cattle and enjoyed his hobbies of hunting and fishing.

Jimmy and Nancy were happily married for almost 68 years.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, Graden and Pauline Dye, brother, Johnnie Dye and Phil Dye.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, sons Coby Dye and wife Laura, Steve Dye, grandchildren, Kathryne and husband Tyson Rusche, Michael, and wife Lauren Dye, James Dye, and wife Lauren, great-grandchildren, Makenna, Ryder and Lexi Dye.

Memorial can be made in Jimmy’s honor to the World Bible School and donations may be left at the Melton Kitchens Funeral Home. Condolences may be made at meltonkitchens.com.