Jim Delleney

Jimmie Stayton Delleney passed away May 2, 2017.

After graduation from high school in Coleman, Texas, Jim enlisted in the regular Navy; he was already in the reserves at the time. Jim served in Korea from 1951 until he was transferred to Albuquerque in 1952, where he served as a special weapons instructor. While stationed there, he received his commission as an officer in 1954. During his naval career, from 1947 to 1969, Jim served on various ships, shore stations and overseas. In 1969, he made it back to Albuquerque, where he found that he liked the area better than any place else he had ever lived. He retired here as a Lieutenant Commander in 1970.

After retirement, he changed careers and went into real estate as a salesperson and eventually a broker. In 1976, Jim was elected to a four-year term as an Albuquerque City Councilor representing 35,000 people. In 1980, he joined the staff of the New Mexico Real Estate Institute as a senior instructor. In 1992, he retired for the last time so he could improve his golf game. He said this was his biggest failure, but that he sure did enjoy trying.

While stationed in Albuquerque the first time, he met Marilyn Leigh Miles, of Overland Park, Kansas when she was working for the Atomic Energy Commission. They were married in 1953 and by the grace of God and Marilyn’s patience they were happily espoused for 47 years before she passed in 2001. In 2002, Jim married Cecyl Armistead and they traveled the world. They were together until her passing in 2016.

Jim is survived by his son, Michael, and his family who live in Folsom, California and his daughter, Susan, and her family who live in Albuquerque and Pennsylvania.

Jim joined the Navy to see the world and he did. He visited every state in the Union and all of Europe. He saw Kipling’s India, Aladdin’s Baghdad, Conrad’s China Seas, and London’s Klondike. He saw typhoons, monsoons and earthquakes. He was a proud veteran who served in Korea, Viet Nam and the Cold War. Jim was a Million Dollar Salesperson in real estate when the highest priced house was $24,000. He was also the managing broker for the largest builder and developer in New Mexico. He was proud that he had taught hundreds of prospective salespeople and brokers that they could be honest Christians and still make a living in sales.

Dad said he wouldn’t trade one minute of his life for anyone else’s and that if he had to choose one thing by which to measure the success of his life, it would be that his wives, children and grandchildren have all accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and that we will be together as a family forever.

A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at FRENCH – Westside.

FRENCH - Westside

9300 Golf Course Rd. NW

(505) 897-0300