James Laney Box

The family of James Laney Box will celebrate his life of 87 years at 1:00 pm on Monday, December 28, 2020, at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery. We will host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm before his graveside service at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. He passed peacefully on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.Face coverings are mandatory, and the staff will enforce social distancing in compliance with state regulations. These precautions are to ensure that the family and our community are safe. You are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and share memories and expressions of sympathy.On August 28, 1933, James was born to George and Ruth Box in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He married Dana Cammack on July 30, 1988, in Lubbock, Texas.Survivors include his wife, Dana Box; two daughters and one stepdaughter, Jennifer (Bryan) Norwood, Laura (Dave) Marcinkowski, Audrey Yates; grandchildren, Jessica Keener, David Norwood, Ben Marcinkowski, Sam Marcinkowski, Will Marcinkowski; great-grandchild, Clark Keener; and brother, R G (Janie) Box.The family moved when James was a small child to Lubbock and they joined the First United Methodist Church where he learned about the Lord which eventually resulted in him accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was initiated as a member of the Order of the DeMolay in April of 1950. He received his childhood education at Roscoe Wilson Elementary, JT Hutcheson Junior High and secondary education graduating from Lubbock High School in 1952.He joined the Navy in October of 1955 as a radarman where he was chosen “Honor Man” by his company for his leadership, initiative, sportsmanship, and high scholastic standing and also earned the National Defense Medal. He completed his active-duty requirements in October of 1957 and was honorably discharged. He enrolled in Texas Tech University and was initiated into the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity in March of 1959. He finished his education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in August of 1967.After graduation, he moved to Brownfield, Texas and worked for an International Harvester Dealership where he became President and Partner from July 1969 to February 1982. In 1982, he left his position there and moved back to Lubbock, Texas. In October of 1983, he went to work at First National Bank of Lubbock, now Wells Fargo, as the Agricultural Representative in the Ag Department. He met his wife there in January of 1984. They married in July of 1988 and began their life together. He retired from Wells Fargo in January 1997 and did independent contracting until 2005. In March 2008, he was inducted into the Golden Legion of the Texas Epsilon Chapter of Phi Delta Theta for 50 years or more of being a loyal member.James’ father taught he and his brother RG how to work early in life by getting them paper routes and telling them that they had a place to eat and sleep but anything else they wanted they would have to buy. He also taught them to bass fish, hunt dove, quail and deer, and water ski at an early age where James developed a love for the outdoors. He continued fishing and hunting with his brother, backpacking, camping, playing golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and many other outdoor activities into his mid 70’s. He loved the mountains and the beach and he and Dana would spend many weekends skiing in Santa Fe, NM and their wedding anniversaries in the Caribbean. He was devoted to his family, loved them with great passion and cherished his friends. He loved life and lived it to its fullest! He will be greatly missed!The family wants to acknowledge and thank Hospice of Lubbock for the wonderful loving care and support they provided along with the precious staff at Promiseland that cared for him during his last days. They treated James with great compassion and respect and truly exemplified what it means to be the “loving hands of Jesus”.