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Jimmy Norris, 48, of San Angelo, died in Tom Green County.  Services were at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, 1988 at Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel in San Angelo.  Graveside services were at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday at Coleman Cemetery.  Local arrangements were under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

He was born December 19, 1989 in Coleman County, Texas.  He was reared in Coleman.  He was a
supervisor at Goodyear Proving Grounds.

Survivors include his wife Linda of San Angelo; two sons, Cody Norris of Rock Springs, and Cameron Norris of San Angelo; one daughter, Holly Norris of Coleman; his parents, Coy and Virginia Norris of Coleman; one sister, Janis Norris of Coleman; and two nephews.
 

Coleman High School has lost another of its outstanding athletes from some years ago.  A heart attack claimed Jimmy Norris a few days ago at the age of 48.

Jimmy enrolled at Coleman High School as a freshman in 1954.  He was a big lad.  I recall watching him play basketball that first year and overheard a visitor say “wonder how old that boy is?”  He was quite surprised to learn that Jimmy was only a young freshman.  Jimmy was a fine basketball player but it was football where he gained the most attention.  He was a big, strong, fast fullback.  When he got in the open it was usually six points.  He could bulldoze the line or move out when he got in the secondary.  In his senior year, Jimmy made all-district and all-state honorable mention.  In that senior year, 1957, Coleman beat Ballinger 25-7.  Jimmy scored three touchdowns and gained 238 yards in that game.  That is likely a school record, certainly for the past several decades.  The same year the Bluecats rolled up 506 yards in beating Cross Plains.

Jimmy’s two sons, Cody and Cameron, carried on the tradition.  They both made all-district as Bluecats.  Jimmy’s dad, Coy, told me an amusing story about Cody one day.  Seems that Cody was making a lot of yardage and got to wondering if he might be rivaling his dad.  He asked granddad about it, and Coy handed him the scrapbook on Jimmy.  Cody turned through a number of pages, said “oh heck,” and handed the book back to Coy.

My brother Roy and I were working the sidelines back when Jimmy was playing, with notebook and camera.  At one point in a game a punt rolled dead on the Bluecat five yard line.  On the first play Jimmy broke through the line and raced 95 yards to the goal line, only to have the play called back on a penalty.  That run would have gone well in the scrapbook.

Jimmy was a great one.

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Word has been received of the death of Miss Shirley Thompson, former Jr. High 8th grade Language Arts teacher.  Miss Thompson had been living in Richland, Washington for the past two years and was with her sister and family, at the time of her death.

Thelma Vera Canon, 75, of Abilene, died Sunday, September 18, 1988 at her home.  Graveside services were 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Adams Cemetery in Burkett with Rev. J. Lloyd Mayhew officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home of Abilene.

Born in Coleman County, she attended school in Burkett and was a retired bookkeeper for Firestone.

Survivors include a great-niece, Carole J. Wilson of Abilene; and a great-nephew, Stevan W. Wilson of Dallas.

BROWNWOOD: James W. “Jack” Neal, 72, died Sunday, September 18, 1988 at a San Angelo hospital.  Services were 2 p.m. Tuesday at Morelock Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Roger Bray officiating.  Burial was in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Born in Santa Anna, he moved to Brownwood 15 years ago.  He was a retired oilfield supervisor for Delta Drilling Company, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a member of the First Christian Church and the Masor Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, R. Lynn Neal of Brownwood; a son James David Neal of Mesa, and two stepsons, Gary Yazell of Brownwood and Phil Yazell of Marble Falls; a sister, Stella Casey Falfurnias; two brothers, Dan Neal of Brownwood and Raymond Neal of Dallas; two grandchildren, six step-grandchildren; and _ great-step-grandchildren.

Grace Miller, 83, of Snyder, Texas died Monday, September 19, 1988.  Graveside services were held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 21 at the Coleman City Cemetery with Walker Funeral Home handling local arrangements.

She was born November 5, 1904 in Reece, Texas.  She was the daughter of Melvin and Minnie Mitchell, longtime residents of Coleman.  She was the widow of H. R. Miller who preceded her in death in 1973.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Press Davis of Coleman and Mrs. Billie Stone of Snyder; two sons, Don of Midland and Robert of Mohabe Valley, Arizona; five brothers, Frank Mitchell of Searcy, Arkansas, Glenn Mitchell of Webberville, Arkansas, Vernon of Sunla, California, Herman of San Diego, California and Clyde of Los Angeles, California; 1 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Willie Frank Griffin, 76, of Coleman died Tuesday, September 20, 1988 at 10:00 am, at Overall-Morris Memorial Hospital.  Services will be Friday, September 23, at 4:00 p.m. at Henderson Funeral Chapel with Dr. Charles Sheffield of the Concho Baptist Church officiating.  Interment will be in the Santa Anna Cemetery.

He was born June 6, 1912 in Coleman County.  His parents were Frank Griffin and Edna McFadden.  He was raised in Coleman County attending Watts Creek Schools moving to DeLeon in 1956 and returning to Coleman in 1981.  He was a Baptist and an oifield worker retiring in 1967.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Wood of Stinett, Texas, and Nancy Staggs of Brownwood; four sons, Frank of California, Billy Paul of Coleman, Jesse Wayne of Sweetwater and Kenneth Clyde of San Angelo; two sisters, Lenna Arlequeeuw of DeLeon, Hazel Reifler of California, and a half-sister, Ruth Freeman of California; two brothers, Sealy Griffin of Fort Worth and a half-brother, Joe Kemp of Mesquite, Texas; 16 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Grandsons will be pallbearers.

Glynn Dale Thompson, 58, of Houston, formerly of Silver Valley died Tuesday, September 20, 1988 at 7:30 a.m. in Springbranch Hospital in Houston.  Services are today (Thursday) September 22 at 11:00 a.m. in Earthman’s Funeral Home at Hunter’s Creek in Houston.  The body will lie in state at Stevens Funeral Home Friday until time of graveside services Friday September 23 at 4:00 p.m. at the Silver Valley Cemetery.  Interment will be in the Silver Valley Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

He was born April 20, 1930 in Silver Valley to Joseph C. Thompson Sr. and Maggie Greaves.  He was reared in Silver Valley and graduated from Coleman High School in 1948.  He was a supervisor of a truck company, a member of the Silver Valley Baptist Church and was in the US Army during the Korean conflict.  He married Evelyn Carey in Abilene June 14, 1953.  He moved to Fredonia in 1953 and to Houston in 1954.

Survivors include his wife Evelyn of Houston; one daughter and son-in-law, Judy L. and Steve Provezis of Katy; one son, Jerry Dale of Dallas; three sisters, Peggy Graves of Houston, Vivian Farmer of Coleman and Bertha Clark of Coleman; one brother, James William Thompson of Coleman; one grandson, Zachary Provezis of Katy; and a number of nieces and nephews.

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Artie A. Barnett, 80, of Coleman died Monday, September 26, 1988 at 11:10 a.rn. at his home.  Services will be today (Thursday, September 29) at 3:30 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Chapel with Rev. Gary Boyd officiating.  Interment will be in the Coleman City Cemetery.

He was born April 15, 1908 in Coleman County to W. O. Barnett and Bertie Lee Fleming Barnett.  He married Opal Leone Baker August 3, 1931 in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  He was a carpenter and builder, housemover and at one time operated a grocery store.  He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife Opal of Coleman; one grandson, Beau Barnett of Santa Cruz, California.; a daughter-in-law, Dr. Barbara Barnett of Menlo Park, California; two sisters, Edora Crye and Mrs. Lorain Cole, both of Coleman; two sisters-inlaw, Mrs. William (Geneva) Barnett and Alene (Eva) Barnett, both of Coleman.

Pallbearers will be Tommy McCulloch, Pat Justice, Wayne Crye, Donnie Crye, Gene Smith and Berry Phillips.

Leonard Landrum, 92, of Evant, Texas died Tuesday, September 27, 1988 at 7:05 a.m. at Hamilton County General Hospital.  Services were Wednesday, September 28, 1988 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Evant, Texas, with the Rev. Gordon Malkowski officiating.  Graveside services were held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday with interment in the Valera Cemetery.  Henderson Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements.

He was born December 13, 1895 in Coryell County, Texas.  His parents were Jim Landrum and Barbara Mitchell.  He married January 16, 1924 to Nora Elizabeth Gulley in Coleman.  He moved to Lometa in 1941 after living in Coleman County since 1915.  He was a retired stockfarmer and a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife of Evant, Nora Landrum and three grandchildren.

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