Jimmy Dale Tompson Tarpley, age 84, of Brady, died Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Brady West Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
A graveside funeral service will be at 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2021 at the Coleman City Cemetery Pavilion. Interment will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery. Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.
He was born November 21, 1936 in Effingham, Illinois to Don Tompson and Martha Eggler Tompson. At a young age, he was adopted by his stepfather, Carl Tarpley. Jim always said he moved to Texas as soon as he could around the age of 10. The family settled in Midland where Jim attended Midland High School. Jim married Velma Lorene Shipman on March 25, 1960 in Midland. They would have been married for 61 years next month. Jim started working for the Coca Cola Plant in Midland in 1974. He worked in many facets in the company before retiring in 2001. Jim was also an awesome mechanic and could fix and repair anything wrong with a vehicle. After retirement, Jim and Lorene moved to Brady and have called it home ever since. Jim was a country music fanatic. He could name every country and western song and artist. He favorite artist was Ray Price and Jim owned every album he ever made. Jim also enjoyed rattlesnake hunting and would milk the venom to help create the anti-venom for snake bite victims. He was a proud member of the Eagles Club in Midland since 1958, the Hillbilly Hits, and the Cotton Flat Baptist Church in Midland. Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He leaves behind an amazing legacy for his family to continue.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Maurice Tompson, Gerald Tompson, Bill Tarpley, Jerry Tarpley, and Mike Tarpley.
He is survived by his wife, Lorene Tarpley of Brady; his daughter, Sabrina Edwards and husband Dan of Midland; his grandchildren, Casey Smith and wife Mallory of Midland, Tanner Smith and wife Kim of Midland, and Brodi Sims and wife Payton of Midland; his great-grandchildren, Harper Smith, Kendall Smith, and Wylee J. Sims; his brother, Steve Tompson of Florida; his sisters, Judith Greer and husband Gene of Florida, Jeanette Hartzog and husband Dwight of Tennessee, and Kim Clanton of Florida; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special sister- in- law, Willa Row.
Memorials are suggested in memory of Jim to Christmas in April, C/O Christmas in Action, 500 S. Lee Street, Midland, Texas 79701, or Brady West Rehabilitation and Nursing, 2201 Menard Highway, Brady, Texas 76825, or to the Hillbilly Hits Heart of Texas Country Music, 1701 S. Bridge Street, Brady, Texas 76825.
Remembrances, condolences, and messages of comfort can be expressed to the family at www.livingmemorials.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Tarpley family.