Owen James “Jim” Cullivan Jr.
Owen James “Jim” Cullivan Jr., age 103, of Paris, passed away Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Henry
Co. Medical Center. His funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 21st, at McEvoy
Funeral Home, with Gary Collier and Rev. Joy Weathersbee of First United Methodist Church, where he
was a member most of his life, officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday,
before the service. Per his wishes, his body will be cremated after the funeral service, and his cremated
remains will be buried in Johnson's Chapel Cemetery.
Owen James Cullivan Jr. was born June 10, 1921, in Paris, TN to the late Owen James Cullivan Sr., and
the late Hattie Beasley Cullivan.
Jim graduated from Grove H.S. and earned bachelor's and master’s degrees in health and physical
education from Murray State University in Murray, Ky. This is where he met Billie Gene Cantrell whom
he married on June 1, 1950, and they enjoyed 64 years of marriage together. Billie preceded him in
death on February 8, 2014.
Jim continued his education by attending the University of Indiana working beyond his master’s. As a
means of contributing to the household income while at the University of Indiana, he served as the
fencing coach. He was also a Veteran who served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Mr. Cullivan retired after a 40-year career coaching football and teaching. His beginnings in football
started at Grove H.S. where he was a member of the very successful team of 1939. After his time spent
in the military, he returned to play football at Murray State. He had a good four years there as an
offensive guard. His playing career culminated when after his senior season he played in the 1949
Tangerine Bowl. As a coach, his career began in 1949 at Fulton H.S. in Fulton, KY. He then returned to
Murray State as a coach with his last four seasons, 1956-1959 as head coach. Other schools he coached
at the college level include Tennessee, Wesleyan, Gilford College, Appalachian State University, and
Eastern Kentucky State University. At the High School level, he coached at various schools including
his alma mater Grove H.S., and as the first coach at Henry County H.S., and concluded his career with
nine years at Cawood H.S. in Harlan, KY, where he was voted Kentucky’s triple-A co-coach of the year
in 1985.
In addition to coaching, Mr. Cullivan was a cattle rancher. He began in 1967 maintaining a herd of
purebred registered Charolais beef cattle and was a co-founder of the Tennessee State Charolais Beef
Cattlemen’s Association.
As a hobby, he enjoyed applying his wit to life’s everyday situations. Those who knew him well were
aware that he was never without a quirky one-liner response to any inquiry made. His experience in life
and sports coupled with his wit resulted in his serving as a speaker for banquets and various social
functions throughout his career.
Mr. Cullivan is survived by two sons: Owen James Cullivan, III of Dover, TN, and Robert Patrick
(Lydia) Cullivan of Lumberton, NC; a daughter: Lynda Griffith of Dresden, TN; grandson: Rea Cullivan
of Boone, NC; two granddaughters: Gwen Delahite of Horn Lake, MS, and Phyllis Griffith of Paris; two
great-grandsons: Marcus Ford of Memphis, TN, and Andy Ford of Paris, TN; two great-great-grandsons;
his remaining brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and a host of nephews and nieces.
In addition to his parents and wife, Jim was also preceded in death by a son William Cecil “Bill”
Cullivan, and two sisters: Mary Katherine Steele and Hattie Grimstead.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 101 East Blythe Street,
Paris, TN 38242, or ABLE Farms, 5566 Elkhorn-Nobles Road, Springville, TN 38256.
