Jimmy Wayne Rhodes

Jimmy Wayne Rhodes, of Thornton, passed away Friday, August 23, 2013, at the Limestone Medical Center, at age 68. Visitation will be Saturday, August 24, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 25, 2013 at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Steve Nance officiating. Music will be provided by Phil Koester and Mrs. Ginger Fritz. Burial will be at Thornton City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Nick Nichols, Michael McGilvray, Ronald Crane, Scott Smith, Bradley Swick, and Marshall McCullen. Honorary pallbearers are David Diver, Charlie King, Rawls King, John Banks Campbell, Lonnie Laqua, David Beard, and Steve Nance. Jimmy was born December 19, 1944 to Charles Rhodes and Edna Earl (Carpenter) Rhodes. Jimmy and Barbara Ann Allman both graduated together in 1963. They were united in marriage on January 26, 1965 at the home of Brother Malcom Smith in Groesbeck, and celebrated forty-eight years of marriage. Jimmy worked for the Texas Department of Transportation where he was an inspector. He earned several safety awards for driving during his career and retired in 2002 with thirty-nine years of service. He was also a rancher, raising cross bred cattle with a special attachment to his brahmas. He was particularly proud of his manicured coastal patch. His love for cattle is shared deeply with his granddaughter Mandy as he helped her with numerous cattle projects. He loved hunting and fishing, especially deer-hunting with the grandson and son-in-law as well as other family and friends. He loved Lake Limestone and spent many summers there with countless friends having made many great memories. Jimmy was preceded in death by his father, Charles E. (Pete) Rhodes and his brother, Charles (Lil Pete) Rhodes, Jr. He is survived by his wife Barbara Ann Rhodes of Thornton; a daughter Shelia Rhodes of Rockwall; a daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Mark Smith of Thornton; a granddaughter Mandy BreAnn Smith and a grandson Mark Bryan Smith, Jr. of Thornton; his mother Edna Earle Rhodes of Thornton; sister and brother-in-law, Yvonne and Robert O’Neal of Thornton; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and Thetta Allman of Cabot, Arkansas; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Evie and Butch Nichols of Mexia; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Dee and J. T. Phillips of Mansfield; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Thornton United Methodist Church.