Clarese James was born to the parentage of Mancie and Onie James on May 29, 1931 in Marietta , Texas. He was the ninth of their 10 children, but he was always a leader in the pack. He received his formal education in the Cass County Public School System and graduated from Bethlehem High School. He came to Christ at an early age and always supported the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Marietta, Texas.

Clarese was an ambitious young man, always looking for the next challenge. He moved to Dallas in search of a better opportunity and found the love of his life. He courted a pretty , but progressive city girl and was joined in holy matrimony to Ms. Dorothy Nell Hutchinson in 1955 . To this union, five beautiful children were born- Ricky Donnell, Shanna, David Stanley, Shelly Renee and Christopher.

Clarese was a determined man who was very crafty with his hands- he could do whatever he set his mind to do, and if you were close by, his spirit was so assertive and so contagious that you would too. He was a union man , a Teamster who drove 18 Wheeler Trucks for over 50 years and then studied to obtain his HVAC Certificate and Licensing as his 2nd career.

He became a successful Entrepreneur in this field and managed several rental properties until well after what would have been retirement for most, but Clarese was not really the retiring kind.
He was a proud man who loved his family. He was a faithful organizer and dedicated supporter of the James -Nickelberry Family Reunion held annually in Marietta, Texas; which started as a fish fry on the Family Homestead.

He looked forward to this fun, family time and took every opportunity to remind the younger generation of the value of a good education and how proud they should be to be a James. He was affectionately known to everyone as Uncle or Cousin Clare. He spent the latter of his golden years still working on something every day;fixing up a house or clearing some land and always enjoying the company and playful banter of "Dahth'Nell", his wife of almost 65 years .

On the morning of April 18, 2020 , God decided that Clarese had finished this earthly race. He was preceded in death by his parents, all of his elder siblings and one son, Christopher James.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory a faithful and loving wife , Dorothy Nell James;four children, Ricky (Renee) James, Shanna James, David S. James, Shelly (Rory) Hodge; his baby sister, Mrs. Bessie Ruth Hatten and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins , nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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