James "Jim" Bart Lucas

James Bart Lucas was born May 5, 1927, and passed away peacefully in his sleep December 2, 2022, in Crestview, Florida, he was 95 years old. Most of his friends called him Jim and family, in that rich southern tradition, called him by his first two names—James Bart. He was born at home in Tuscaloosa County half-way between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa in a little community known as Caffee Junction. After graduating from Brookwood High School, he joined the U.S. Navy near the end of World War II. His two older brothers were already serving. Morris in the Army and John in the Marine Corps. Jim was stationed in Cuba and trained on a first-generation naval rocket launcher, not much more than a small barge filled with rockets. He described it as a floating powder keg. After his service in the Navy, he married Margie Mae Stephens and they raised a family of five boys. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study civil engineering, eventually becoming a licensed land surveyor and civil engineer in the State of Alabama, and later a licensed engineer in Florida. At the age of 44, Jim moved his family to Tampa Florida where he joined Heidt and Associates as a senior engineer. He worked for Heidt for the next 37 years where he finished out a distinguished and successful career, retiring in 2008. Jim enjoyed playing golf, grilling steaks, and University of Alabama football. After receiving Christ as his savior, Jim was a committed Christian and active member of the churches he attended. He is preceded in death by his parents Bart Jefferson and Lola Mae Gamble Lucas, his two brothers Morris and John Lucas, his wife of 24 years Margie Lucas, his oldest son Phillip Carey Lucas (Linda), his oldest grandson James Jeffery Lucas, and daughter-in-law Cathy Miller Lucas. Jim is survived by his wife of 37 years Donna Lucas; his younger sister, Doris Lucas McClinton; four sons, Bart Stephen Lucas (Cindy), Jeffery Neal Lucas (Mary), Tracey Ross Lucas and Gordon Curtis Lucas; nine grandchildren, Matthew Lucas (Isabella), Amanda Lucas Tuck (David), Perry Lucas (Kristin), Camille Lucas Adams (Justin), Isabelle Lucas, Chelsea Lucas, Shane Lucas, Bonnie Lucas, and Amy Lucas; and ten great-grandchildren, Hudson, Gabriela, Clara, Josephine, Hallie, Noelle, Eloise, Titus, Amelia, and Olivia. Jim will be laid to rest Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in the Shamblin Family Cemetery in Tuscaloosa County. His life ends where it began, on Shamblin soil. Dad was a man of faith and we all know he is in Heaven reunited with his family that preceded him.

James "Jim" Bart Lucas

May 5, 1927 - December 2, 2022