James Bigelow Hall

Even legends must pass from this realm to the next, and here we honor the life and light of James Bigelow Hall.

Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at the Wannabe House, 9344 Wannabe Rd, Bryan TX 77808 apx 4pm. Band starts at 6pm, fireworks to follow. BYOB (and yer own fireworks, if you like) event.

'Bigelow' came to us November 18th, 1946, and departed this earth on June 5th, 2025, at home. As many know, he lived several lives over in his 78 years and was a man who didn't stop. He was larger than life and seemed as though he'd last forever, often joking, 'only the good die young, so I guess I'm stuck here.'

But, he was good. To a fault, he gave whatever and whenever he could. It would sometimes drive him mad, but he always gave his best. He was one of the very few people who just accepted others as they were. He had his opinions, but he never tried to change anyone, nor did he care what you wore, what color you were, or who you fancied. That was part of his magic, truly. He was unapologetically himself, expressing the deepest emotions without hiding. He would raise his voice in fury, give hugs without reservation, laugh with pure joy and shed tears without shame. He wasn't a perfect person, but he was one of those very rare, absolutely real people.

He was born into a world of music; his mother, Sarane Ives, was a classical pianist, and his father, Arthur Hall, was a music professor at Rice University. While he gained an absolute love of music, he was a rebel early on. While his brothers practiced their instruments, he lived his early life with football, fast cars, and misadventures. After a period of youthful exploration and a stint in “college”, he eventually found his 'music' at the end of a paint brush.

His paintings were complex, multi-layered compositions, rich in texture and emotion. Much like a modern orchestral piece that embraces both beauty and discord, his work was dynamic and expressive, with shifting perspectives that gave them a fluid, almost musical quality. Most people saw his art, but few saw the inner workings of the man behind it. He was complex, yet simple. I don't believe he ever truly fit in this world, as much as he appreciated being a part of it. It was as if he spent almost 80 years as a visitor on this planet, never fully integrating, nor truly wanting to.

The world may have gotten a little bit dimmer when he left it, but I like to think the sky got a little bit brighter.

He is survived by his son, Shane Hall; daughters, Karrie Gaudiello and Nichole Starks; grandchildren, Sarane Alley and Lorenzo Gaudiello; great-grandchildren, Krista Alley, Danielle Alley, and Braden Alley. He is also survived by his brother, George Hall; nieces, Tracy Young-Nuñez, Kirby Aguilar, Dani Davis, and Sara Miller; grandnieces, Mackenzie Ray, Faith Eppers, Sophia Aguilar; and grandnephew, Asher Aguilar. Last but not least, he is survived by his adopted daughter, Alisha Hall, and her children, Kayla and Casey Hall, as well as his "brother", Michael Phillips, and Michael's daughter, Brooke Phillips.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Ann Young; brother, Joe Hall; and wives, Peggy Raabe and Lisa Gilstrap.