Obituary of James Fagen Pairsh Jr.

James Fagen Pairsh Jr was born on November 1, 1946, in Wolfe City, Texas. The son of James and Louise (Bishop) Pairsh.

James grew up attending school in Wolfe City and graduated in 1965. After graduation, James enlisted in the US Army National Guard and served in the Vietnam War as a sergeant and a nightly cook. While in the Army National Guard, he started rodeoing, which expanded for over 35 years of Jim’s life. In 1970, Jim became a member of the PRCA. While rodeoing, James participated in multiple events and was also a rodeo clown and a bullfighter and traveled to many states throughout the US and other countries.

On April 7, 2007, James and Shirley (Crum) Pairsh united in marriage in Huntsville, Missouri. Then later moved to Texas, where he worked on various ranches. Then, James retired in 2018 and moved to Oak Grove, Arkansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Sr and Louise Pairsh.

He is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter Rachel Upchurch and husband David of Longview Texas, stepdaughter Kendra Johnson and husband TJ of Farragut, Iowa, and stepson Kenneth Crum Jr of Farragut Iowa, brother Jonny Pairsh and wife Marylyn of Wolfe City Texas; sisters, Beverly Pairsh of Greensville Texas and Barbra Zolnai and husband Dale of Greensville Texas, grandchildren Reighly Thompson, Keegan Thompson and step-granddaughter Montana of Hamburg, Iowa along with many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.