Another sailor has sailed away. Jimmy Dart passed away on Saturday, February 10, 2024. He was born in Mobile, Alabama on November 7, 2024, to Jim Dart, Sr. and Wynona Foose Dart.
In high school as well as in Boot Camp, Jimmy enjoyed playing in the band – the tuba and bass recorder among the instruments. Jimmy graduated from Davidson High School and joined the Navy shortly thereafter. He went to San Diego for Boot Camp and on to Millington for Aviation School. He was immediately sent to Vietnam aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence where he became an airplane Captain. It is said that the Flight Deck is the most dangerous place one can work.
When he returned from his military service of four years, he worked building fire engines for Jayco in Mobile. After 12 years there, he moved his family to Huntsville to build custom ambulances for 30 years at Excellence, Inc. He loved his work because he felt he was making a difference that would benefit us all. He felt very strongly about Red Friday: Wear something red on Fridays so that we remember everyone deployed. It was important to him to attend Veteran’s Day programs at his grandson’s school each year. He was a proud vet.
He loved to fish in ponds, rivers, streams, and the Gulf of Mexico. Other hobbies included woodworking, puzzles, building models of ships and planes, and creating ceramics. Gardening was also on his list whether it was feeding the family or feeding the birds, bees, and butterflies. Wolves and eagles were favorites of his in the animal world. I believe he felt a kinship with them. Hummingbirds would perch on him as he put out nectar for them to eat. He was a gentle soul, and they could tell. Friends and family alike will tell you that he was never too busy to enjoy a good joke or prank.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, Jim, Sr. and Wynona Dart, and by his first wife, Sarah.
Jimmy is survived by his wife, Lillian Blanton Dart; three daughters, Tammy Chandler Walker and Kimberly Lamb of Citronelle, AL, and Tracy Joye (Richard) of Huntsville; two brothers, Charles Dart of Mobile and Bill Dart of Pascagoula, MS; sister, Carolyn Dary Mincey of Savannah, GA; eight grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Added to his list are three stepsons, John, Jeffrey, and Joshua Perry; three stepdaughters, Stephanie Perry Moline, Jennifer Perry Wrenn and Wendie Perry Baggett; and 14 step grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Ave., SW, Huntsville, AL 35805, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 18 at Enon Cemetery, Hwy 12, Ackerman, MS.
If so moved to donate, his charity of choice was St. Jude Children’s Hospital. He had both a granddaughter and step granddaughter who have benefited from their services.
