James Walter “Jimmy” Borrer

James Walter “Jimmy” Borrer, 68, passed away Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Jimmy was born Dec. 26, 1951 in San Antonio to William Hope Borrer and Mary Louise Patteson Borrer. Jimmy was a member of the Gonzales First United Methodist Church where he was serving on the board of trustees and had served in many other capacities. He was also a member of the Gonzales Elks Lodge. Jimmy had served as a director of the Gonzales ISD School Board, as co-president of the PTO and had coached little league baseball, among a host of other services to his church and community.

Jimmy grew up in the small town of Smiley, Texas. He loved fishing at the family reservoir, riding all over town in his blue scooter while hitting all the potholes in the street and riding his horse “Sally”. He was a boy scout and a proud member of the Smiley High School football and baseball teams. Graduating from Smiley High School in 1970, this country boy moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University where he earned his bachelor’s degree graduating in May 1974. Jimmy married the love of his life, Kathleen Sample on June 15, 1974 in the Smiley Baptist Church. They moved to Poteet where Jimmy coached for three years. Then moved to Gonzales where Jimmy helped coach the mighty Gonzales Apaches under the direction of Head Coach Erwin Ckodre. Jimmy took over the family business, Borrer Electric Service working beside his father. He never lost his love of coaching as he coached his son’s little league teams and there was always advice to his three kids at home.

Jimmy enjoyed helping people, sometimes walking people through an electrical repair over the phone and he was glad he could do it. He was always greeting folks with a smile and responding to their “how are you’s” with a quick snip “if I was any better, I’d be twins.” He often said to his wife with a quirky smile, “I’d be a good Walmart greeter.” Later in life when Jimmy was semi-retired from the electrical business, he enjoyed going to the country and spending more time taking care of his cattle. He was blessed to have seven grandchildren and the time to love and play with them. Taking them for rides in the ranger and teaching them to drive it. He cherished times fishing with them and always coaching his grandsons on the best techniques to use in tackling and his granddaughters on how to position themselves behind the plate in softball for a quick throw-down or a stop of an outside pitch as they were catchers just like he was when he was playing. Jimmy loved to BBQ, and he cooked many briskets for his kid’s fundraisers, church events and vacation bible school. Jimmy shared his love for math as he would sit at the kitchen table helping his grandchildren with their math problems. He loved the rodeo and enjoyed watching each event on television. Every year Jimmy would buy the newest tomato plants, buying more than he would need so he could share the extras with his Cow Palace coffee buddies. Jimmy was a bright and shining star in Gonzales cloaked by a humble and inconspicuous nature. Gonzales will miss Jimmy, but clearly the county is better off because he lived.

James Walter “Jimmy” Borrer is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kathleen Borrer of Gonzales, adoring family, daughters and sons-in-law, Kristi Gayle and Michael Mercer of Gonzales, Kelly and Monty McGuffin of Stockdale, son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Malinda Borrer of Cost, grandchildren, Brody Borrer, Hadley Borrer, Brendon Mercer, McKenzie McGuffin, M.C. McGuffin, Blakely Mercer and Hunter Borrer. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Billy Borrer.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington officiating. Interment will follow in the Bundick Cemetery in Smiley. Pallbearers: Brian Sample, Joshua Lucas, Mark Lindemann, Ronnie Menking, Ross Hendershot, III and Tai Apisa. Honorary pallbearers: Ross Hendershot, Jr., John Lucas, Erwin Ckodre, John Barfield, Carl Alex Sample, Jimmy Selzer and the Cow Palace Coffee Drinkers. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund. Friends may leave their condolences by visiting www.seydlerhillfuenralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.