James Scales

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

James B. "Buster" Scales lived as a man of faith dedicated to his family and the community. He was a son, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a laborer, an entrepreneur, a preacher and so much more.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 23, at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend Keith Royal. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City.

Buster was born in Ballinger, Texas, to James Burlie and Clarice Scales on October 13, 1928 and passed away on March 17, 2022. He graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in 1946. After graduation Buster joined the US Army as World War II came to a close serving as a member of the Allied occupation forces in Japan. He married Sybil Goulas on March 9, 1951 at St. James in Port Arthur, Texas. Throughout their 54 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling all over the United States as well as overseas.

Buster worked at Texaco’s Port Arthur refinery from 1951 to 1984 in a variety of positions, eventually promoted to field engineer. In 1969 he established his own company - Scales Portable Buildings in Bridge City. This endeavor called for him to expand his already impressive list of skills and became a master electrician.

Buster served as a deacon and then a preacher for Grace Communion International Church. During the last 20 years of his life, he enjoyed making wine and mead for his friends and family, working in his garden and visiting with family and friends.

James B. Scales is preceded in death by his wife, Sybil Scales; parents, James B. Scales Jr. and Clarice Laxon Scales; son, James B. "Jimmy" Scales III; and siblings, Ralph Scales and Joan Dodson.

He is survived by his brother, Harold Scales, his children and their spouses, John H. Scales (Brenda), Christy Gonzales (Jesse), Cyndie Chauvin (Vance), Susan Scales (Gail), Kendall Scales (Lisa), Nancy Biri (Lonny), Jodie Van Chau (Andrew), and his daughter-in-law, Donna Scales, as well as 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be John H. Scales Jr., Jerrid Scales, Rory Scales, Jordan Gonzales, Ethan Biri, Bryan Chauvin and Drew Van Chau.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Bridge City/Orangefield Ministerial Alliance, 200 W. Round Bunch Road, Bridge City, TX 77611.