On Thursday, January 21st, 2021, our family gathered to say goodbye to our hero. His name was James "Jim" Edward Hightower, a loving father, husband, brother and friend.

Jimmy was born on May 12th, 1944 in Augusta, Georgia to Dorothy Mae (Youn) and James Pickens Hightower. He was a graduate of Stranahan High School (1963) and Broward Junior College (1965), but it was his desire to join the Navy that would forever change his life.

He entered boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois in July of 1965 and was then stationed in Patuxent River, Maryland, followed by Lakehurst, New Jersey in 1966. Here he went to meteorology school, followed by computer school in Monterey, California. After achieving his rank of 1st class Petty Officer as an Aerographer's Mate, he went on to what would be his most important assignment, at Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian Island of O'ahu.

While in Hawai'i in 1967, Jimmy would meet his soul mate. A beautiful, Filipina Hawaiian local named Armelina "Lina" Aguado from the small town of Wahiawa. Or as Jimmy would tell the story; "I kept seeing this nice pair of legs walking up the stairs to an apartment above mine; I had to find out who they belonged to." And thus their lifelong romance began. Jimmy asked Lina to marry him, to which she famously replied "maybe." They were married on September 21st, 1968 in Hawai'i. A marriage that would last a lifetime of 52 years and bring three children into the world: Dawn, David and Danielle.

In July of 1970, Jim and Lina moved back to the mainland to settle down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and later in 1985, Palm City, Florida. Between 1980 and 1985, Jim built his own house, brick by brick on a five acre lot in the woods where he would help raise his family away from the hustle and bustle of rapidly expanding Fort Lauderdale. In 1970 Jim began working at FPL and held many different positions including: auxiliary equipment operator, instrument mechanic, mechanical foreman, mechanic broiler attendant, and land utilization leader, among others. He retired in 2008.

Jim had many passions in life including: gardening, cooking, fishing, crabbing, boating, tinkering with gadgets, weather stations, and traveling. He also loved ice cream, a love he developed from his mother, Dot, who worked at Dairy Queen for many years.

He was known as a jack-of-all-trades and could grow any plant and repair any machine. He was always helping his kids with their many household projects. He taught them to track hurricanes and was known to record them as they made landfall. He even built his own weather station in the backyard.

He also quietly and unassumingly engaged in public service activities: He was awarded the Naval Weather Service Award and volunteered to build a community garden in Indiantown, Florida where he acted as a mentor for children. He enjoyed delivering food and clothing for local migrant farmers.

Jim was known for his laid back and gentle demeanor, but also for his jokes, pranks and infectious laugh. Most of his sentences ended with a punchline, it was a gift he possessed.

But most of all, Jim loved his family and was deeply devoted to them his entire life.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, "Pickens", his mother, "Dottie" and his brother "Ricky". He is survived by his wife Lina, his three children, Dawn (Joe) Paletta of Fayetteville, GA, David (Amy) Hightower of Jupiter, FL, and Danielle (Zack) Smith of Jensen Beach, FL, his sister Jennie (Pete) Bigelsen of Deerfield Beach, FL, and a host of loving in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and treasured friends.

Funeral service has been postponed due to the pandemic.

Remembrances may be made in the form desired by friends; All expressions of sympathy, including flowers, honorary donations to a favorite charity, and cards are welcome to 6220 SW Markel St, Palm City, FL 34990