James Hulen

Funeral service for James Hulen, age 82, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at First Baptist Church in the Spence Chapel with Dr. Jeff Gravens officiating. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery in Deport, Texas. Visitation will be held thirty minutes prior to the service. Mr. Hulen passed away at AVIR in Grand Saline, Texas, on Friday, February 6, 2026.

James Hulen was born on November 1, 1943, in Deport, Texas, to Marion P. and Allene (Loven) Hulen. James married Patricia “Pat” (Meier) Hulen on July 28, 2000, in Sulphur Springs, Texas. James worked as a successful self-employed photographer for over fifty years as well as co-owned Deport Hardware and Lumber. He was deeply involved in both his local communities, as well as in his hometown of Deport, Texas. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF)-Commerce Lodge #234 and held several offices within the Order including district deputy and Noble Grand for two years, he also served on the planning committee of the IOOF State Lodge. He was an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce in Sulphur Springs, Texas as well as active in the Kiwanis Club and Professional Photographers of America since 1964. James was a volunteer firefighter for over twenty-eight years. During his life, he won many awards for his creativity and for his service to the community. James won the Martin Luther King Award twice in Sulphur Springs, Texas and he was awarded Ambassador of the Year of Sulphur Springs, Texas. He also won a Photograph Award and his picture was on display in Las Vegas, Nevada for an entire year. He was a proud member of First Baptist Church for over fifty years.

James is survived by his sisters-in-law, Kathy (Meier) Cope and Linda (Johnson) Meier; brother-in-law, Robert Meier and his wife, Dian; stepdaughters, Julia Wilhite and her husband, Cory, and Rosa Blake and her husband, Kirt.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Hulen, and his parents, Marion and Allene Hulen.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in honor of James to the First Baptist Church at 116 Oak Ave., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.