James Richard Olney

James Richard Olney, husband, father, uncle, brother, pastor, and friend, died Wednesday July 30, 2014.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth.

The family requests no flowers but suggests memorials be made to Lifepoint United Methodist Church or to Texas Wesleyan University.

Jim was born November 7, 1949 to Maurine and Richard Olney, Michigan farmers. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Texas Wesleyan University in 1971 and his Master of Theology from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 1975.

Rev. Olney was ordained a United Methodist Deacon in 1972 and Elder in 1976. He served nine appointments in the Central Texas Conference during his 42 years of ministry, most recently as District Superintendent of the former Brownwood District.

Rev. Olney was an accomplished writer and dramatist having created and performed 33 biblical and historic dramas during his ministry. Since the age of 17 he performed the American humorist Mark Twain throughout the country for churches, colleges, literary and civic groups, and national organizations.

Jim is survived by his wife of 42 years, Terri Olney of Granbury; daughters, Carey Olney of Austin and Molly Olney-Zide and husband Joshua of Newark, Delaware; son, James T. Olney of Dallas; sister, Danelle Olney Bowers of Quincy, Michigan.