A funeral service for James Bert McConnell III, 75, of Marshall, Texas will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 22, 2023, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Colonial Gardens Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, July 21, 2023, at the funeral home.

James was born on July 25, 1947, in Marshall, Texas to James Bert "JB" McConnell Jr. and Sallie Emma Long McConnell and passed away on July 19th, 2023, with his family lovingly by his side.

His love for farming and animals started at a young age as he spent his childhood working on his parents' dairy farm or at their grocery store. He spent most of his life working in agriculture and as a heavy equipment operator. He loved working outdoors, bailing hay, restoring tractors, improving his farm, and raising his cattle. If he wasn't working on the farm, you might have caught him having morning coffee at the feed store or attending ballgames to watch his sons or grandchildren play. He also enjoyed watching the races at the Hallsville racetrack and camping with family along the Sabine riverbank and running trotlines.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James Bert "JB" and Sallie Emma McConnell and his brother William "Billy" McConnell.

He is survived by his wife, Nan McConnell; his two sons, Jamie McConnell and wife Shannon, and Kyle McConnell; daughter-in-law, Charisma McConnell; sister Kay Griffin and husband Johnny; grandchildren, Bailey McConnell and Lupe Rivera, Amelia McConnell, Gideon Rosenquist and Gloria Rosenquist; sister-in-law, Dianne McConnell; brother-in-law, Jay Campbell and wife Deborah; nephews, Mike McConnell, Chris Griffin, Colt Griffin, Todd Lloyd, and Cole Campbell and niece, Kristi Ford along with numerous great nieces and nephews, cousins and other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his honor to a charity of your choice.