Jim Edlin

James Ivory “Jim” Edlin passed away on March 27, 2020. Friends are invited to share memories and expressions of sympathy for the family to cherish at www.memorialdesigners.net. Please check funeral home website for updates on the pending memorial service.Jim was born on March 2, 1937, to Garrett and Anna Belle Edlin in Dalhart, TX. He attended elementary school in Hartley, TX and junior high and high school in Channing, TX where he played basketball and six-man football before graduating in 1955. Jim received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry from Texas Tech University in 1959. He also took classes in various continuing education programs, including satellite seminary courses through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Education was very important to Jim, and he worked to make sure his children received a good education and went to college. He also served as a member of the Channing, TX school board.A farmer his entire life, Jim worked with cow/calf operations, feeder cattle operations, dry land and irrigated farming, and feedlots. He was active in the Farm Bureau, served as President of Dalhart, TX Farm Bureau, and was on the Board of Texas Soil Conservation Service. Jim was recognized by several farming journals for his innovative techniques in farming, particularly in irrigation. He adopted early irrigation techniques and applied these same cutting-edge principles and mentalities to his work on feedlots. Jim and his father started the Edlin and Son Cattle Company, and Jim owned the Edlin Lumber Company in Channing, TX. Those who knew him best knew Jim’s true life calling was to mission work. He was a man of very strong faith, was ordained as both a deacon and a minster, and was very active in the Baptist church everywhere he lived. Jim was a Mission Service Core Missionary through the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Nell, moved to Montana in 1988 where Jim taught computer science courses at Yellowstone Baptist College for five years. Jim then became the coordinator of computer work in the Montana state office and later became the editor of the Montana Baptist News, which he published for about ten years. He also served as the disaster relief communications coordinator for the Montana Southern Baptist Convention. He provided all communications for the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the Biloxi area while the other members of the team cooked and served meals. He took several mission trips to Mexico to assist in building churches in small villages, and he filled many positions in his local church, including Sunday school teacher, occasional preacher, and bible study leader. He was always willing to help his neighbors, and even strangers, in any way that he could, and out of his generous spirit, he made sure no visiting preacher or missionary ever went hungry by inviting them to join his family for Sunday lunch. He also enjoyed ministering through the Brotherhood men’s ministry monthly prayer breakfasts. Most recently, Jim was involved in the Hope Shalom and Upland Mission ministries. He was always eager to sit with those seeking the services of these ministries, listen to their prayer requests, and pray with them. He became known as the “prayer guy,” and he was always missed when he wasn’t there. His children recall that the longer he lived, the softer his heart grew. He became a man after God’s own heart and allowed the love of Christ to shine brilliantly in his interactions with others.Jim was an avid reader, photographer, builder, mechanic, radio operator, and pilot. He had an adventurous spirit and analytical mind, and he always had a project going. Jim exemplified a work ethic like none other; he lived his life believing the way to fix anything was to work harder, longer, and more often. He was a consummate professional at whatever he put his mind to, but above all, he loved his family, and he loved the Lord. He faced adversity with grace and taught his family to overcome obstacles with phrases like, “This too shall pass,” and “The Lord is in control.” Although grieving an earthly loss, his family rejoices in knowing that he rests in the loving arms of his Savior. Survivors include his wife of forty-eight years, Nell; children, Kent Edlin and wife Michele of Pueblo, Colorado, Kathy Jackson and husband Randy of O’Fallon, Illinois, Terri Highsmith and husband Keith of Lubbock, Texas, Cindy Zepeda of Ft. Worth, Texas, Mike Edlin and wife Asta of Santa Rosa, California, and James Ivory Edlin, II of Bothell, Washington; grandchildren, Andrea Hovet, David Edlin and wife Hannah, Mark Edlin and wife Ashley, Melissa Jackson, Jacob Jackson, Aaron Highsmith and wife Meredith, Leah Meuer and husband Cody, Meredith Beery and husband David, and Sean Edlin; a sister, Mary Ann Barber and husband Dale of Channing, Texas; and 13 great-grandchildren. Along with his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a grandson, Andrew Ruen.