On Jan. 22, 2022, Jimmy Childs, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband, passed away at the age of 86.

James Allan Childs, Sr., was born on Nov. 13, 1936, in San Angelo, Texas. His parents were Olen Glen Childs and Mary Cleo Caldwell Hicks.

On Feb. 14, 1958, he married Joyce Maxine Dunnam. They raised three sons, James Allan Childs, Jr., David Glen Childs, and Thomas Steele Childs.

Jimmy spent over 60 years developing and building Childs Corporation, which he started in 1960 with his father in Fort Stockton, Texas. He was a third-generation dirt contractor with his legacy beginning with his grandfather Charlie Childs, who built the first road between Abilene, Texas, and Fort Worth, Texas, under a company named Bucy-Childs

Jimmy enjoyed many things in life. He loved work, a good quail hunt (as long as it was wild and fast), a good fishing trip, a great performance horse, a good piece of Caterpillar equipment, and especially his family.

Jimmy served as president of American Quarter Horse Association for two terms.

He believed in hard work, strength, and good character. His name is stamped all over the Permian Basin with the locations and roads he built over the last 50 plus years.

Just a few months ago, his physician told him he did not need to work, and he replied, "l do not work because I have to, I work because I want to."

That is the legacy he left his family. Hard work and strength.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his father Olen Glen Childs; his mother Cleo Caldwell Hicks; and grandson Nicholas Glen Childs.

He is survived by his wife Joyce; his sons Allan and wife Rita of Fort Stockton, Texas; David and Shelley Chambers of Fort Stockton, Tommy and wife Stephanie Childs of Teague, Texas; his step-father Harold Hicks of Austin, Texas; and sister Suzie Graham and husband Gary Graham of Brady, Texas; grandchildren Lyndsey Childs-Caughron and husband Jeremiah of Midland, Texas,  Audrie Corral and husband Adrian of Midland, Nathan Childs of Spicewood, Texas, Jason Childs of Fort Stockton, Cierra Childs, Wyatt Childs, Harley Childs, Hannah Childs of Argyle, Texas, and Riley Wallace and Rhen Chapman of Teague; and great grandchildren Colton Coates, Trinity Coates, Kobie Corral, and Presley Corral, all of Midland.

A memorial service was held Jan. 25, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Fort Stockton.

Donations can be made to Parkinson's Foundation.