Jimmy Duane Cantrell, 69, of Huntsville, passed away August 26, 2019. Mr. Cantrell was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Payne Cantrell and Lula Jean McAnally Cantrell. Survivors include his wife, Rita Annette Cantrell; sons, Michael Cantrell (Jennifer) and Blake Cantrell (Rochelle); daughter, Sara Cantrell; grandchildren, Adam Cantrell (Audrey), Mary Catherine Hill (Luke), Grayson Cantrell and Cooper Cantrell; brothers, Dick Cantrell (Carolyn), Dale Cantrell (Malinda), William Cantrell (Pam), and Robin Cantrell (Pam); sister, Rebecca Hyatt (Scott); and, mother of his children, Catherine DeLapp Cantrell.
Mr Cantrell graduated from Lee High School in 1968 and attended the University of Alabama at Huntsville as a full-time student while also working full-time for Teledyne Brown Engineering. In 1972, he entered the University of Alabama School of Law where he continued to both work and attend school full-time. Mr. Cantrell graduated in 1975 and entered the United States Army in 1976 serving as both trial defense counsel and courts-martial. Mr. Cantrell was discharged from active duty in 1979, but remained in the Army Reserve until his retirement in 2004.
Mr. Cantrell also attended the University of Florida School of Law where he received his Masters of Law in Taxation. In 1980, he joined a multi-practice law firm in Chattanooga, TN. While there, he attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was asked by the University to become an adjunct professor of tax accounting and went on to teach several years.
In 1990, Mr. Cantrell joined Dynetics in Huntsville, AL where he served as General Counsel. While there he also taught for the University of Alabama School of Law in its graduate tax program as an adjunct professor. In 1992, Mr. Cantrell founded the Alabama Law Weekly, a publication that collected, summarized and distributed overviews of the appellate cases in Alabama each week. This magazine was sold when he left in 1999 to join Progress Rail Services Corporation in Albertville, AL, where he served as General Counsel. As Progress Rail grew and was acquired by Caterpillar Inc., he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Corporate Services where he served until his retirement in 2015.
Mr. Cantrell married Rita Annette Cantrell July 4, 2002. Their marriage was filled with love, adoration, mutual respect, and commitment. Each year on their anniversary, they renewed their vows as an expression of their continued devotion to one another. Mr. and Mrs. Cantrell shared their home with their two beloved pets, Emily and Eddie. Mr. Cantrell will be remembered by those who loved him for his truly unbelievable stories, his great sense of humor, his loyalty and generosity to friends and family, and his genuine kindness to all.
Visitation is Wednesday, August 28, 2019, 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Berryhill Funeral Home. The funeral service is Thursday, August 29, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at Meridianville Free Holiness Church. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hope’s Rescue, 395 Riverbend Road, Ohatchee, AL 36271, a loving rescue for senior dogs.
