Coach Jim Canter 11/13/1928 -10/26/2006
Services for Jim Canter, 77, Jacksonville are
scheduled for Saturday, October 28th at 2:00 PM at Central Baptist
Church with Rev. Dr. Bruce Webb officiating.
Burial will be in the Still Waters Memorial Gardens under the
direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville. Coach Canter died
October 26, 2006 in Tyler.
He was born November 13, 1928, in Homer, LA to the late Robert E.
and Lena Jackson Canter. He married Lucy Kennedy in Nacogdoches in
1950. He attended Kilgore High School and Stephen F. Austin University,
where he lettered in three years in football and baseball and was
inducted into the SFA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. He was an All-Lone
Star Conference Safety in 1949, while leading the Lumberjacks in punt
returns and interceptions. He was an All-Lone Star Conference selection
in baseball in 1948 and 1950, pitching the Lumberjacks to three
consecutive LSC championships.
Coach Canter served thirty-three years as football coach and
Athletic Director. He coached in Gladewater, Beckville, Stephen F.
Austin University, Orange, DeKalb, Southern State University in
Magnolia, AR. and Jacksonville. At DeKalb, Coach Canter won four
district championships in six years. During Coach Canter’s tenure at
Jacksonville High School, he guided the Indians to championship over 50
percent of the time and was named district 8-AAA Coach of the Year in
1974 and 1975. In 1965, Coach Canter earned “Four States Coach of the
Year” honors from the Texarkana Gazette, followed by the “East Texas
Coach of the Year” awarded by the Tyler Morning Telegraph in 1971.
Jim Canter was a member and former elder of the First Christian
Church, Tyler. He served as chairman of the board at First Methodist
Church, Jacksonville, and was an elder and Sunday School Superintendent
at First Christian Church, Nacogdoches. He taught the Alpha Omega and
Pearl Malloy Sunday School classes at First United Methodist Church in
Jacksonville and the Fidelis class at First Christian Church, Tyler. He
was active in scouting many years. He served three years on the board
of directors of the Texas High School Coaches Association and was
presented the President’s Award by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
in 1975.
He was preceded in death by their son Steve Canter.
Survivors include his wife Lucy; his sons, Mark Canter and his wife
Aline, Jacksonville, and John Canter and wife Nan, Houston; his
daughter-in-law Julie Canter, Jacksonville; grandchildren Stephen and
wife Rachel Canter, Joseph Canter and Clay Canter, Jacksonville; Caleb
Canter, Magnolia; Luke Canter, Ft. Bragg, N.C.; Merry Caroline Canter,
McKinney; Miranda Canter and Joseph Lemons Canter, Houston; brother Sam
Canter, Blanchard, LA; and sister Earsie Lynn, Bossier City, LA.
Pallbearers are Stephen Canter, Caleb Canter, Clay Canter, Luke Canter,
Joseph Canter, and George Kennedy, III. Family will receive friends
from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, October 27th at Autry Funeral Home.
If desired, memorials may be made to the Hospice of East Texas,
4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX. 75701 or to the Rockin’ C Ranch,
5300 CR 325, Lindale, TX. 75771.
Hospice of East Texas, 4111
University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75701 or Rockin' C Ranch, 5300 CR 325,
Lindale, TX 75771
Information from Autry Funeral Home