James E. "Jim" Jett

james e.

October 10, 1944 ~ January 22, 2023

Born in: Houston, Texas
Resided in: College Station, Texas

Jim Jett, of College Station, passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at his beloved Camp Creek Lake House. Visitation will begin at 12 noon, until the time of the Celebration of Life Service at 1pm, Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Christ Church. Interment will be private. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.

The 78 years of Jim Jett’s life are a story marked by faith and by family. At times the story below, we tell of Jim may seem bigger than life itself. But anyone who knew our dad knows at times he was prone to “Jett Facts” – directionally accurate accounts leaving enough room to turn a tale from good to great. Our dad was an incredible man, and here’s his story, Jett Facts and all.

James Earnest Bagley was born on October 10th, 1944 (“Ten Ten Forty Four”) in Houston, Texas to Alfred Earnest “Ernie” Bagley and Katherine Barbara “Bobbie” Bagley.

Before turning one, Jim lost his father in World War II.  Ernie was a University of California Berkeley graduate with a Geology / Astronomy degree, a great head of hair, and a ticket punched to South America to explore the growing energy sector. He was known to be a phenomenal athlete, a funny and inquisitive guy, and an outdoor enthusiast – all traits that were passed onto his son. Most importantly – and as evidenced by Ernie’s journal that Jim found in his final months – Ernie was deeply in love with his wife and adoring of his newborn son. Despite a life apart, Ernie acted as a guiding light through Jim’s remarkable journey and imprinted on Jim a lifelong adoration and support of those who serve our country. Following Ernie’s passing, Bobbie showed Jim how to pick yourself up and write the story of the life you want no matter the circumstance.

Bobbie remarried Verl Jett Sr., an Army Air Force Colonel who was assigned overseas and moved the family to Lakenheath AFB, England. Dad would enroll in an English boarding school where he developed a love of poetry, the original football (soccer), and famously showed the English cricket players how a Yankee properly throws a ball. He learned discipline, respect, and developed a strong sense of independence while away at school.

After spending dad’s formative years in Bury St Edmunds, the family transferred back to the States to Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth TX, where dad brought with him a love for shepherd’s pie and figgy pudding, and a pretty thick British accent. His high school years cemented his love for the great State of Texas and is when he developed some of his longest lasting friendships out of Arlington Heights High School.

Throughout life, where others saw serendipity, Jim Jett saw the work of God. That played out in the early 1960s, when Colonel Koenig, an Aggie neighbor, told Jim that he should look into Texas A&M University. At age 17, armed with Colonel Koenig’s advice and the self-sufficiency learned at Bury St Edmunds boarding school, Jim Jett collected spare parts, built his own car, and drove to College Station. Once there, he enrolled in the Corps of Cadets and became part of a brotherhood that would last a lifetime – with friends turned business partners turned family.  He was everything A&M stood for and reflected the Core Values – including Integrity, Service, Leadership, and a fighting spirit. He left A&M not as “Jim Jett” but as “Jim Jett Class of ‘66” – and proudly wore his Aggie ring embedded with his mother’s wedding diamond until his final days.

And while A&M remained forever a part of dad’s story, his greatest chapter began as he closed his time at A&M when he married and became a dad to Julie for the first time. For anyone who’s ever crossed paths with Jim Jett – whether stepping foot in his office or giving him too long of a window in a passing conversation – they will walk away knowing his kids were his central pride and joy.

Jim Jett became a young dad to Julie, then Jennifer, and eventually his namesake, Jimmy. He filled their childhoods with a sense of wonder for the outdoors – whether snow skiing the Rocky Mountains, water skiing with one of the girls on his shoulders, packing a trunk for summer camp, or camping with Jimmy with hand-carved walking sticks. Later it was Lisa and Ashley, where he continued to create a childhood full of life lessons and laughter. He istilled in them his drive and love of soccer, and became the winningest youth coach in South Texas – just ask him. You can see dad in all of his kids, his wit, sense of adventure, creativity, and most importantly his faith. He gave them all the greatest gift, a heritage marked by an unwavering love and devotion to his savior, Jesus Christ.

The father of five children was a father figure to an entire community. Many reading this, from his nieces and nephews in California and Utah, to local kids in College Station, likely grew up with Jim Jett simply calling them ‘kiddo’, which meant you made the cut.  He was an active member of PTO and continually raised funds for CSISD through 50 Men Who Can Cook. He invested his parenting style into the value of education for his children – with his Aggie evangelism leading his five children to the University of Texas, the University of Texas again, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Arizona – “not an Aggie in the bunch” dad would say. Dad had tremendous pride not just in his five kids, but eventually the eight grandkids to follow, and finally his first great grandchild born in April of 2022.

Dad’s love of adventure eventually led him to a scuba diving lesson in town, where he met his wife of the last 40 years, Gina. Dad talked about how brilliant she was, and how well they compliment each other – a sentiment proven out over a loving partnership at home, in business, and in having Lisa and Ashley to complete the blended family. Mom always kept dad in check – telling him when to bow out of a party when he was getting chatty, or helping teach her daughters to spell, the American way. And she stuck by dad’s side – the backbone of the family – dad’s right hand through cancer, and his left hand through the second cancer, where MD Anderson learned that the term ‘visiting hours’ don’t apply to her.

In addition to his family, Dad truly valued community – from the time he arrived in College Station, dad was dedicated to helping build a great community in the place he loved and would raise a family. He found his passion in real estate and had an eye for what many couldn’t see, resulting in both residential and commercial developments that would become a family home to hundreds, and a place where growing businesses would thrive. From Woodlake Estates, Quail Run Estates, Briarcrest Commons to the Aggieland Business Park, he was the general partner on paper but mostly a loving friend who was proud to make every deal a ‘win-win.’ His fingerprints are all over the Brazos Valley in the developments he created, the mentorship he provided others in his field, and especially in his work giving back to the community through many organizations. Just as he arrived back in College Station in his twenties, he became a young member of the Jaycees, and the Lions Club; he later became a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Foundation. Alongside his contributions to the growth of the community, he poured his heart into organizations that focused on the people living here and especially those who helped spread the word of Jesus. He saw the life-giving ministries of Global Outreach and poured his heart and soul into raising funds and spreading the word for the international ministry.  He joined the board of Habitat for Humanity, chartered Young Life Brazos Valley and was a proud member of the Aggie Veterans Mentoring Program.

We trust that Jim Jett’s family and friends will find overwhelming joy in having known him in this life and through these stories. And we look forward to the conversations we’ll have with our dad through prayer and reflection – because every now and then ‘it sure is good to get word from heaven.’.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Earnest “Ernie” Bagley and Katherine Barbara “Bobbie” Jett.  He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Gina. He is also survived by his daughter, Julie Jett West and her husband Glen West; his daughter, Jennifer Jett Sieracki and her husband David Sieracki; his son, James E. ‘Jimmy’ Jett Jr. and his wife Cori Hughes Jett; his daughter,  Lisa Maree Jett; his daughter, Ashley Jett Vernon and her husband Tim Vernon; his granddaughters, Gracie West Buro and her husband Michael Buro and great-grandson Hank,  Gretchen West Yeager and her husband Erik Yeager, Elizabeth Joy Jett (Ellie), and Hope Katherine Jett; his grandsons, Kyle Jett Sieracki, Kaden David Sieracki, Koltin James Sieracki and Luke Bagley Jett; and his sister Carolyn Jett Calmes and brother Verl Jett and many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Jim’s name be made to one of the following:

  • A scholarship being established for veterans attending Texas A&M University, Jim’s beloved Alma Mater. The scholarship is meant to honor Jim and his father, Ernest Bagley, an aviator that made the ultimate sacrifice during WWII.  Instructions:Follow the link http://give.am/JimJettMemorial, fill out the form, ensuring that in section 3 you check the box for “This gift is in honor of someone special” and in Additional Comments, enter “James Earnest Bagley Jett.”
    • Address: 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840.
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Global Outreach

Services

Visitation: January 28, 2023 12:00 pm

Christ Church (CUMC)
4201 Texas 6 Frontage Road
College Station, Texas 77845

979-690-4673

Celebration of Life Tribute: January 28, 2023 1:00 pm

Christ Church (CUMC)
4201 Texas 6 Frontage Road
College Station, Texas 77845

979-690-4673

View current weather.

Tribute Video

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. Sorry to hear of his passing. Please give your mom a big hug from me. I remember meeting them in the mid 1970’s and his Aggie and real estate presence was strong. God bless him and all of you.

  2. So sorry for your loss. He was my first crush when I was 4 years old. Such a fun, handsome man. ❤️

  3. Jennifer, I am so sorry to gear if your dad’s passing. I can see you in his beautiful smile. May you all be blessed with a beautiful celebration of his life and cherish his love he keft behind to nourish your hearts and souls until you are together again.
    With heartfelt sympathy,
    Renai Baker Lackey

  4. So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a role model to many in the building and development community and truly, truly a very nice guy. Condolences to Gina and family.

  5. I am so very sorry for the loss of your father. He sounds like an amazing man and father. I can see you in him Julie West.

  6. Jim was a wonderful person and an irreplaceable champion of the Bryan-College Station community. His contributions have made the world a better place and will live on. I’m very sorry for your loss and I feel fortunate for having the good fortune to have known him.

  7. What a beautiful tribute and amazing story of life. Sending thoughts and prayers to the family. With sympathy, Laura Kuri Benavides

  8. Very sorry to see this. Jim was an awesome guy. He always treated me like I was his best friend. I admired and respected him from the moment I met him. I will surely miss him.
    My sincere condolences to Jim’s family during this difficult time.

  9. I’ll remember Jim as a strong, kind and gentle person, who loved his military career and Texas A&M. Dad (Paul Leming Jr, class of ‘52) just thought the world of Jim, but I suspect they are hanging out together, talking about fighter jets or the many places they were stationed along the way, comparing notes. Peace be with you Jim, and with Gina, your girls and the rest of your big family. Rest in Paradise.✝️

  10. Dear Gina, Lisa, and family, I was very saddened to hear of Jim’s death. He was an amazing man and father. I never realized the many contributions he made to the Bryan-College Station community. Your tribute to him via his obituary was beautiful and heartfelt. Please accept my deepest condolences on your great loss.

  11. Julie & Jennifer, I am so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. He was the first adult I met when my family moved to College Station in 1969. My dad was in the Air Force and was sent back to school for a year at A&M. Our house was right next door to your house on South Ridgefield. I babysat you two a lot as your parents and mine spent many a day together. One of my fondest memories of that time were the neighborhood kick ball games in the cul-de-sac. Your dad was, of course, a great coach. We didn’t let him play very often (“stick to coaching!”) because we got tired of retrieving the ball from one street over…heck of a kick! We crossed paths often when I got into property management. As years passed we lost touch but whenever we happened to run into each other he would greet me with a big, big smile…one of the best! I will forever have special memories of your dad. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  12. Jim was our landlord from 2009-2016. We are right across the street from his office. We didn’t know if our business was sustainable or not when we started. A lot of people doubted us. We doubted ourselves. But Jim never did. He advocated for us to everyone. He encouraged us when we were down. He called to congratulate when we were shipping out a big order, or adding another building. Post-2016 we bought more property from him and as you note he was always seeking a “win-win” deal. Sometimes I went to him for advice when I simply didn’t know who else to ask. He was always eager to help. I will miss him and I know everyone whose life he ever touched will as well. My prayers to your family.

  13. Thinking of you all and sending prayers and hugs from Omaha. I was lucky enough to be one of those “kiddos” growing up in College Station and having Julie as a friend. My fondest memory of him is when he drove us to Houston in the Winnebago to go to the circus.

  14. Hugs and prayers to Julie and family from Omaha. I was lucky enough to be one of the “kiddos” that grew up in College Station. One of my favorite memories is when Mr Jett drove a group of us to Houston in a Winnebago to see the circus. He was always such a fun Dad.

  15. Sorry for your loss, what great memories you have! Losing our parents is hard, but praying with them is so rewarding. Karen Luedke Guyton

  16. Thank you for the wonderful
    Video of Jim’s life. I am Jim’s cousin. His Mom is my Aunt. We shared our dear Grandmother “Grammie”. Got to get together with Jim a few times in our life, I lived in California and his family in was in Texas. Bless you Cousin . Love, Nancy Gibbs


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