Thomas (Tom or Jimmy) James Tope, Sr.

Thomas James (“Tom” or “Jimmy”) Tope, Sr., of the Stranger community near Kosse, passed away Sunday, September 29, 2013, at Falls Community Hospital and Clinic in Marlin, at age 67. Visitation will be held Friday, October 4, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 5, 2013, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Jimmy Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in the Seale Round Prairie Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Luis Castillo, Matthew Daniel Copeland, James Higgins, Joseph Daniel Tope, Rodger Shelton, and Zachary Higgins. Honorary pallbearers will be Candance Marie Tope, Layne Neumann, Kristin Ann Neumann, Courtney Leigh Copeland, Stephen Castillo, Krista Castillo, Caitlynn Ann Pollard and Kenton Wunderlich. Thomas was born August 29, 1946 in San Marcos, TX to Dr. Thomas Tope, Jr. and Ethyl Marie Riley Tope. He lived in the Damon and Aldine areas during his school years, and lived in several different cities in Texas. Tom was united in marriage with Virginia “Ginger” Buchanan in Conroe on May 27, 1989. In 1999, they settled on a farm they purchased in the Stranger community between Kosse and Marlin. He worked in the manufacturing and sales of metal pipe, and retired in 2007 from RTLC. Tom enjoyed working on their small farm, and also hunting, traveling, and deep-sea fishing. He loved all sports, and enjoyed playing golf with his sons, in Houston, Woodlands, Ft. Worth and the Battlecreek courses. He enjoyed his grandchildren as they grew, and teaching them life lessons. Tom (Jimmy) was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by wife, Ginger Tope, of Stranger; sons: Thomas “Tommy” James Tope, Jr. and wife Lawanda of Pearland; Richard “Ricky” James Pierce of Conroe; John “Peanut” Copeland and wife Misty of Thornton; Matthew K. Copeland of Conroe; daughters: Amy Pollard of Tomball; Shelley M. Jackowski and companion Charla Caughter of Mesquite; Melitta “Cissi” Taylor and husband Bill of Tupper Lake, New York. He also leaves behind, 22 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; two sisters, Nancy VanderVeen and husband Jim and “Tinker” Boos and husband Riley; and a brother, Terry Tope and wife, Mika.