James Alton Campbell

James Alton Campbell, 72, passed away at his home in Clifton, Texas, on May 20, 2026, with his wife of 52 years at his side.

James was born March 31, 1954, to John and Elsie Welch Campbell. He grew up in Clifton, Texas, and was a 1972 graduate of Clifton High School, where he played football and ran track. In his senior year, he met Elisa Nutt of the neighboring Valley Mills community, and they married on February 16, 1974.

James attended Hill College before joining Summers Electric Co., in Dallas, where he learned the electrical wholesaling business. He later earned his electrician’s license and launched his own successful company, 3Star Electric, serving the Dallas area until his retirement in 2019. James and Elisa moved from their Sachse home of many years and retired in the Lake Whitney area, where together they enjoyed their beloved Boston Terriers and spent their evenings feeding the neighborhood deer.

James loved his nieces and nephews. When they were young, he and Elisa took them to movies, arcades, miniature golf, Disney on Ice, the zoo, circus, and many other places and events for children. Visits to their Uncle James and Aunt Elisa’s house always began with a grocery store trip to pick out sugary treats and breakfast cereals they weren’t allowed to eat at home.

James was witty, playful, and sarcastic. He loved fast cars, playing golf, the Dallas Cowboys, road trips to Choctaw, and riding his Harley-Davidson. His strong-willed, gruff nature was contradicted by his anonymous generosity to families in need and a heart for homeless animals.

James is survived by his wife, Elisa, of Clifton; his uncle, Clifton Welch of Cedar Hill; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Renee’ and Pat Cauley of Clifton; nieces Hannah Cauley of Dallas, and Kaitlyn Alvarez of Highland Village; nephews Riley Cauley of Little Rock, and Owen Cauley of Dallas; and grand-nephew Elijah Alvarez of Highland Village. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Elsie Campbell; nephews Jordan Cauley and Trevor Smith; and grand-niece Madalina Alvarez, and his aunt Alera Welch, for whom he was a caregiver for many years. 

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, with funeral service to follow at 11 a.m., at Clifton Funeral Home, 303 S. Avenue F, in Clifton, 76634. James will be laid to rest at Clifton Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in James’s memory may be made to BARK Rescue Kennels (barkrescue.org).

Pallbearers will be Riley Cauley, Owen Cauley, Glenn Willis, James Korn, Larry Musselman, and Darrell Winnett. Honorary pallbearers are Wayne Welch and Butch Swift.