James Delane Gryder

James “Jimmy” Delane Gryder, 69, passed away on August 4, 2017, at Hendricks Hospice Center after a long battle with cancer. Visitation will be Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 5 to 7pm at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola, Texas. Services will be held at 3pm Sunday, August 6, 2017, at Jim Ned Valley Church of Christ, in Tuscola, Texas, where he was a member. Burial will be Monday, August 7, 2017, at 11am at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene, Texas.

Jimmy was born February 25, 1948, in Ranger, Texas, to R. W. “Woody” and Bessie Oneta (Barnett) Gryder. Jimmy graduated from Abilene High School and McMurry University before joining the United States Army where he retired as a Lt. Colonel with the Army Reserves in 1996. He married his sweetheart, Linda Irvine in Abilene, Texas on August 31, 1976. He and Linda moved to Tuscola in 1978, where he was a long-standing member of the Jim Ned Community and a proud member of Vickie’s Coffee Club. He owned and operated several businesses in the Abilene area before he retired in 2008. Jimmy loved hunting and fishing and enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in their activities.

He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Linda Irvine Gryder, his children, Landra Raymond and husband Michael, Leslie Ward and husband Shawn, and Wesley Gryder and wife Allison. He was the proud Grandpa of five grandchildren, Jacee Delane Ward, Mason Ward, Ethan Raymond, James Gryder and Thomas Gryder. He is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Janice Carlin and Frankie Woodyard, and brother-in-law, Larry Irvine.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the following organizations:

Jim Ned Valley Church of Christ, building fund, P.O. Box 536, Tuscola, Texas 79562