James “Jimmy” Wrinkle

James “Jimmy” Erwin Wrinkle, 89, of Vidor, died Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont, Texas. He was born August 1, 1936, in Urania, Louisiana to James Eugene Wrinkle and Nora Birthu Savage.

Jimmy graduated from Nederland High School in 1955 and was well known for his athletic abilities, especially in track and swimming. He was also a welter weight boxer in the local Golden Gloves Boxing club. While he was attending his father’s church in Nederland he found the love of his life, Carol Ann Foster. They both discovered their love for music and started performing together with Carol on the piano and Jimmy on the guitar. They enjoyed sixty-seven years of marriage, music and many joyful memories.

He spent the majority of his working career as a process operator and safety supervisor for the Mobil Chemical Olefins Unit in Beaumont. He retired from that position in 1998 with thirty-five years of service.

He and Carol had three children, Sheryl, Reggie, and Jenifer. They all shared their parents’ love of music. The Wrinkle family enjoyed picking on their guitars, mandolins, fiddles and even a banjo. They formed their own Bluegrass band in the 1970s and called themselves Shades of Blue. They traveled around the country performing at Bluegrass festivals and all three kids participated in fiddling competitions.

When the family wasn’t playing music, they were fishing, camping, and hunting. Jimmy was an avid hunter and the hunting stories that he told were always a little bit exaggerated. The fishing stories were also sometimes too incredible to believe. He also had a special way with animals from an early age starting with a pet crow, raccoon, pig and a flying squirrel.

After retirement, Carol and Jimmy loved visiting the mountains together, especially Estes Park, Colorado. They took their camper and went to many of the beautiful state and national parks. They enjoyed sitting around the campfire, playing their instruments and drinking coffee. They lived life to the fullest and were a great example of a loving couple to everyone who knew them. Jimmy was a life-long member of Cathedral in the Pines in Beaumont.

Jimmy is survived by his children, Sheryl Brocato and her husband, Benny, of Kountze; Reggie Wrinkle and his wife, Juanita, of Abilene; Jenifer Thompson and her husband, Scott, of Smyrna, Tennessee; grandchildren, Michael Brocato and his wife, Tara; Samuel Brocato and his wife, Aleena; Rachel Saberon and her husband, Jamesky; Laurel Becerra and her husband, Martin; Dakota Wrinkle and his wife, Cordray; Cameron Wrinkle; Cheyenne Friesen and her husband, Jayson; Maya Thompson; eleven great-grandchildren; and brother, Wallace Urshan Wrinkle.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Carol Ann Foster; parents, Rev. James Eugene Wrinkle and Nora Berthu Savage; and brother, Daniel Eugene Wrinkle.

A gathering of Mr. Wrinkle’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 2, 2026, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Broussard’s. His graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Restlawn Memorial Park, 2725 North Main Street, Vidor.  His services will be live streamed here.