James "JB" Bryan McKathan

James Bryan "JB" McKathan, Jr, 53, of Ocala, FL, passed away on February 3, 2019, in Ocala, FL.
JB was born in St. Cloud, FL to Norma and Luke McKathan on March 3, 1965. He went to high school at McArthur High School, participated in the cross country, track, and wrestling teams until he graduated in 1983. He attended some college classes at the University of Florida while assisting his father in training thoroughbred racehorses. After earning some college credit, JB decided his career path would follow the thoroughbreds to the racetrack. JB and his brother, Kevin, started McKathan Brothers LLC, the business consisted of selecting, buying, training, and selling thoroughbreds based off of their farm in Citra, FL. The brothers found early success with Storm Tower and November Snow; the two purchased and trained champion horses including Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Captain Steve, and Silverbulletday; and had an integral part in the success of, Pioneerof the Nile; Eclipse Award winner, Forever Unbridled; and Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah.
JB enjoyed skateboarding, riding, roping, wakeboarding, and playing guitar, but preferred spending time with the racehorses, family, friends and his Great Danes most. He and his brother won the Bruce Cambell Award in 2015 for training Triple Crown & Grand Slam winner, American Pharoah. JB was involved in repeated donations to the Ocala Farm Ministry and Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm.
JB will be forever remembered by his wife, Leigh; brothers, Kevin and Gary; sister, Brenda Conyers; parents, Norma, Luke (Jocelyn); nieces, Brianna and Savannah; and nephews, Russell Conyers, Rowan, and Conrad McDavitt, and Morgan Curtin. JB was preceded in death by his sister, Denise Schwacke.
The family will be receiving friends at the Visitation on Saturday, February 9th from 1pm-4pm at Roberts of Ocala Downtown Chapel located at 606 SW 2nd AVE Ocala, FL 34471. Pastor Bob Miller, of Ocala Farm Ministry, will be officiating the funeral service which will begin at 4pm immediately following the visitation. JB will be laid to rest the following Saturday, February 16, 2019, at Pleasant Home Cemetery in Andalusia, Alabama. A funeral service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 16th at Pleasant Home Baptist Church in Andalusia, AL. The family will receive friends from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service Saturday, February 16, 2019,at Pleasant Home Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Pleasant Home Baptist Church Cemetery; with Keahey Funeral Home of Andalusia directing. Services in Florida were under the care of Roberts of Ocala Downtown Chapel, and Keahey Funeral Home of Andalusia in Alabama. Memorial donations may be made to the Ocala Farm Ministry: 489 NW 110th AVE Ocala, FL 34482; or Old Friends Farm 1841 Paynes Depot Road Georgetown, KY. 40324. For those that are not able to attend the service in Ocala, the funeral service is going to be streamed live on www.robertsfunerals.com. The family wishes to extend gratitude to all of our employees, clients, and partners at McKathan Brothers Training Center for their support during the difficult time. Keahey Funeral Home of Andalusia is in charge of local arrangements.
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James "JB" Bryan McKathan, please visit our floral store.