Obituary of Jim Davis Northcutt Jr.
Jim Davis Northcutt Jr. was born January 30, 1926 in Abilene, Texas to Jim Davis Northcutt and Opal Vest. Dad was proud to be from the great state of Texas and had visited most of the county courthouses throughout the state. He left high school early and joined the US Navy in May of 1943, just barely 17 years old. He served as a Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class aboard the USS Haverfield DE 393. The Haverfield was a destroyer escort on the hunt for German U-boats in the North Atlantic and his task force was credited for numerous enemy submarines being sunk that no doubt saved countless US and British servicemen. The Haverfield was sent to the Pacific Ocean in August 1945 and Dad was in Pearl Harbor when Japan surrendered on September 2nd and the war was over.
On June 24th 1947, Dad married Nina Vignon Daulton, the love of his life, and was married 44 wonderful years until her passing May 12, 1991. Dad made what he said was the most important decision of his life when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 21 at a small Baptist church in New Mexico. Dad attended Hardin Simmons University and then graduated from Arlington Baptist Seminary. He was ordained at Temple Baptist Church of Lubbock, Texas on May 6, 1956. He pastored 4 years at First Baptist Church in Fritch, Texas before moving the family that now had 3 children to Del City, Oklahoma in 1963. Dad pastored Del Baptist Temple for 17 years in Del City. He established and managed church youth camps in both Oklahoma and Texas for numerous years. Only God knows how many lives were changed and hearts mended as God worked through Dad’s ministry.
Dad loved to travel and had been to every state with the exception of Alaska. He loved to laugh and being surrounded by people. He never missed a chance to tell someone how much God loves them and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Dad is survived by his children Erik and Sheila Groenevelt of Euless, Texas, Steve and Lottie Northcutt of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Kevin and Lisa Northcutt of Southlake, Texas as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Dad had always said one hard fact about living nearly 92 years was losing those you love and have chosen to spend your life with. Dad was a man that wanted to share his life with someone special and was preceded in death by his second and third wives, Maxine Webb Northcutt and Jean Fulks Northcutt. Each of these wonderful Christian ladies passed from this earth and all of our lives much to soon. We share Dad’s feelings when our family refers to each and every one of their loved ones with one sentiment, we are all FAMILY.
