Memorials › James Forrester Underwood

James Forrester Underwood

21 Sep 1919 – 10 Apr 2007

Birth21 Sep 1919
Death10 Apr 2007
CemeteryHillcrest Burial Park Cemetery
Waxahachie , Ellis County , Texas , USA
Added byStone✞Searcher on 04 Jan 2014
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46612054

Bio

James Forrestor Underwood, 87, a native of Ellis County, passed away peacefully April 10, 2007 at Creekside Care Center in Plano, Texas. James was born in the Boz Community in 1919. His parents were the late James Bartley (Bart) Underwood and Dellie Carolina Underwood. James was educated in Ellis County schools and attended Droughs Business College in Dallas. James married his childhood sweetheart, Billie Louise Baird, June 3, 1942. They lived in San Diego, California where James was employed with Ruhr Aircraft Corporation. They lived in California for nine years and returned to Waxahachie in 1950 where he went into the farming and ranching business with his father and two brothers Robert and JB Underwood. James remained in the farming and ranching business for 47 years until his retirement in 1997. In addition to his farming career, James was involved in many church and civic activities. Growing up in the Bethel Methodist Church, he became a member of the Administrative Board and served as the Board's President. He also served as the church's Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years. Upon transferring his membership to the First United Methodist Church in Waxahachie, he served on the Administrative Board and was Vice-President of the Fidelis Sunday School Class. James was a Mason for fifty years and a member of the 32 degree Masonary and a Shriner. He served several years on the Advisory Board for US Congressman Joe Barton. He was one of the organizers for the first Co-Op Grain Elevator and Storages in Ellis County and served as the Board of Director's President. He was a Charter Member of the Ellis County Sheriff's Posse and was the President of the Ellis County Livestock Association. He was elected to the Board of Directors for Waxahachie Bank and Trust and served until the bank was sold to Comerica. James was preceded in death by his parents, previously listed, and one brother Robert Underwood and two sisters Lois Curry and Ruby Cockerham. Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Billie Underwood and daughters Stacy Underwood Knightstep and husband Don of Plano and granddaughter Kim Knightstep Monk and her husband David, and great grandsons, Devin and Gavin Monk of Dallas; daughter Deena Louise Underwood Murdoch and her husband Al of Mexico and granddaughter Tiffany Elaine Wilmer and husband Clayton of Dallas, and son Kyle Lenn Underwood and wife Lori and grandchildren Dane, Kristy Morton and husband Chris and David of Roscoe, IL; brother J. B. Underwood, Jr. and his wife Wilma of Waxahachie and their children Brad, Bart and Sally and families; sister Oleta Dial-Bridges and niece Valera Abright and husband David; nephews Dennis Cockerham and families, and Jo Bob and Jim Edd Underwood and their families. Funeral services was at the First United Methodist Church, Friday, April 13, 2007 at 10 AM with Reverend Michael Patison officiating. Pallbearers were Leland Calvert, John B. Sims, Tommy Winn, David Calvert, Randy Calvert, and Buddy Banks. Honorary Pallbearers were Horace Bratcher, James Lewis, Melvin Loveless, John Bob Maxwell, Charles "Chili" Forbes, and Wayne McCollum. Interment followed at Hillcrest Burial Park.

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