James Clarence Caraway

Please note the change in venue for today’s service.

James Clarence Caraway was born March 7th, 1970 to Clarence and Mary (Delaney) Caraway. He was welcomed by his sister Barb and then followed by Lori, Mary Kay, Corey, and Jon Caraway. James attended grade school in Lake Benton until 2nd grade when the family moved to Clearfield, SD where he went to country school (Star Prairie Country School). In 4th grade the family moved back to Lake Benton. James was very active throughout Jr High and High School in 4-H, FFA, and MN Junior Hereford Association where he, along with his siblings and several of his friends in the show cattle world, enjoyed shows including county fairs, state fairs, and several Jr National shows all over the country during the summer. James was a great fitter and won several awards including Herdsmanship every year he showed in Fargo at the RRV fair. In FFA he won several awards such as Star Farmer. Along with showing and raising Hereford Cattle he spent endless hours washing and clipping cattle with the family business (Blue Ribbon Fitting Service). On the farm in the summer he spent endless hours baling, throwing and stacking hay, walking beans, and picking rock along with working on cattle with his dad, grandpa Jack, uncles and many high school friends.

James was active in football, track, wrestling, and basketball all through Jr High and High School and had several winning seasons. James also participated in Jr and Sr Class plays. Upon graduation from High School in 1988, he attended Northern State University where he pursued his passion for football. James was a walk on at NSU in both football and track. He played four years and earned All American Honors. He was a part of several winning football seasons, including the Conference Championship in 1992. James also ran track and threw shot and discus while at Northern. He graduated from NSU in the summer of 1993 with a degree in elementary education.

In 1995, James moved to Texas. He taught elementary in San Antonio and then moved on to his love for playing football for the San Antonio Stallions Semi Pro team. He also worked at several gyms and health clubs. On July 23, 2000 James married Sundok Lee and through that union they had two children, Renee and Solomon. James and Sunny sold real estate for several years together and then James ventured off into the roofing business and started his own company called “Third Day Roofing”. 

James was also an ordained minister and was passionate about the Lord. For the last seven years he had been working within the prison ministry and saved many souls. Every July, James would look forward to coming to South Dakota for a family and friends’ reunion at his brother Corey’s lake home over the 4th of July. 

Grateful for sharing James life is his Daughter Renee Lee Caraway, Austin, Texas, his son Solomon James Caraway, Austin, Texas. His mother Mary Caraway, Lake Benton, Minnesota. James’s special friend Nyarie Zhou, Georgetown, Texas. His sisters Barb Carruthers, Baltic, South Dakota, special friend (Carey Story-Chamberlain, South Dakota), Lori Caraway (fiancé Cory Stein) Brookings, South Dakota, Mary Kay Caraway, Ivanhoe, Minnesota, brothers, Corey (Alethea) Caraway, Volga, South Dakota, Jon (Blair) Caraway, Lexington, Nebraska; along with several nephews and nieces. James is preceded in death by his father, Clarence Caraway; parental grandparents, George and Harriett Caraway, and maternal grandparents Jack and Dorothy Delaney.