James Patrick Ebener, 76, of Fleming Island, FL, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2026, at home, surrounded by his loving wife and family. Jim was born on July 25, 1950, in LaSalle, IL, to Robert and Anne Ebener. He graduated from St. Bede Academy in 1968, and Illinois State University in 1972. He received his Masters in Education from Indiana University at South Bend in 1978.
Jim built a life rooted in faith, family, community, and tennis.
He married Mary Melissa Retherford on April 4, 2009. They were madly in love, and together they shared a love for tennis, hiking, traveling and eating pie. They were just as content to sit at home and watch the tennis channel or various TV shows and movies.
Jim was proud to serve his country for five years in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1972-78. He found great joy in hiking and had a passion for the mountains and the great outdoors, especially the national parks, where he would organize family outings.
Family was a huge part of his life. He grew up as the oldest among eleven children in Oglesby, IL, where he organized all kinds of sports, cards and board games growing up in such a large family. He provided protection and guidance to his younger siblings throughout their lives and will be remembered for his strength, love and sense of humor.
An avid reader, Jim taught English from 1973-88 at Concord High School in Elkhart, IN, where he also coached tennis. In fact, he was named Coach of the Year by the Indiana High School Coaches Association in 1985. As a teaching tennis professional, he taught, coached, played and organized tennis for most of his life, raising generations of tennis players for the game he loved, and creating social networks and successful teams of tennis, first in Indiana and then at several clubs in Clay and Duval Counties, FL. His love of tennis, and the lure of year-round sunshine, brought Jim and his family from Indiana to Florida in 1988.
He also taught English and coached tennis at Orange Park High School for 15 years. Jim and his wife Melissa took second place in mixed doubles at the 7.0 level in the USTA national tournament in San Antonio, 2012, when Jim captained the team that went to nationals. Dearly loved by his players, Jim showed endless patience as a tennis coach and instructor. In 2007, Jim initiated a BENefit tennis tournament in honor of his son Ben, who died that year, to raise money for nursing scholarships. In 2023, he came out of retirement to coach his granddaughter’s high school tennis team.
Jim was a humongous fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and also rooted for the Chicago White Sox, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Indiana University. A beloved and loyal friend, down to earth, very honest, he was known as “Mr. Adorable” for his wry sense of humor and loveable facial expressions.
He is survived by his beloved wife Melissa; children Robert Ebener (Laura), Emily Pryor (Will) and stepson Lance Griffin (Brooke); eight grandchildren Vaden, Warren, Elizabeth, Austin, Addison, Abbie, Skylar and Allie; Kathy, the mother of his children; and siblings Patricia, Danny, Barbara, Mary Beth, Robert, William, Steve, Teresa and Carol. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Benjamin and his sister Martha.
Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Sunday, October 25 at Russell Haven of Rest in Green Cove Spring.
Funeral will be at 11 am on Monday, October 26 at Sacred Heart Church in Fleming Island.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations to the Barco-Newton Family YMCA in Fleming, FL.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9).
