James "Skip" Fonte

Mr. James D. “Skip” Fonte, 78, of Amarillo, Texas, entered the loving arms of our Lord and Savior on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Amarillo, Texas surrounded by his loving family. Graveside services will be 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 17, 2025, on what would’ve been Skip’s 79th birthday, at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Rowley Funeral Home of Amarillo, Texas and Martin Funeral Home East in El Paso, Texas.

Skip was born on December 17, 1946, to James J. and Catherine Helen (Dillon) Fonte in Burlington, Vermont. He married Pamela Barry on October 14, 1967, in El Paso, Texas. He proudly served in the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of E5. Skip loved playing golf, fishing, and hunting with family as well as playing baseball in his youth and playing softball on company leagues. He was always a homerun hitter. Skip was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone as his heart was giving and kind. There is nothing Skip loved more than spending time with his family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life.

Mr. Fonte is survived by his loving wife, Pam Fonte; his children, Kristin Gunset, (Gary) of Snyder, TX, Eric Fonte, (Michelle) of Midland, TX; his grandchildren, Sarah Sparks, (J. Rich) of Amarillo, Texas, Rebecca Gunset of Dallas, TX, Grant Gunset, (Mariah) of Snyder, TX, Hailey Guerra (Joshua) of San Antonio, TX, Laykin Hunt, (Jonathan) of Midland, TX, and Mason Fonte of Midland, TX; a brother, Paul Fonte, (Margarita) of El Paso, TX; a sister, Mary Patricia Fonte of El Paso, TX; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his, parents, James J. and Catherine Helen Fonte; a brother, Dominick J. Fonte; his mother-in-law, Ada J. Holmes; a sister-in-law, Ada “Skeet” Scott; and two brothers-in-law, Bobby Scott and David Barry.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Skip’s name to: Tunnel to Towers Foundation, at www.T2T.org.

Our family would like to extend a special heartfelt thank you to the nursing and physician staff of BSA, SICU and to Texas Specialty Hospital (LTAC Unit) in Amarillo, Texas for the love, care and support they showed our family through Skip’s journey home.