James "J.T." Travis Carlton

James Travis “J.T.” Carlton, of Groesbeck, passed away at home with his family present, on Monday, December 8, 2014, at age 83. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 1:00 at Grace Memorial Park in Hitchcock. Reverend Tracy Sims of the Central Baptist Church of Thornton will conduct the services. Pallbearers will be Jeff Carlton, Clayton Carlton, Tim Newsome, Bobby Osseweyer, Josh Osseweyer, Jason Chesshir, Jeffery Carlton, James Carlton, David Bell, and Randy Newsome. J.T. was born April 23, 1931 to Julius Carlton and Travis Vera (Duncan) Carlton in Lufkin , where he lived his first ten years. The family then moved to Hitchcock where he grew up. J. T. served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 through 1950. He began a lengthy career with Community Public Service (which later became Texas New Mexico Power Co.) as a lineman for the electric company in Dickinson. He moved up to working as a service man, and for the last ten years of his career he was the District Manager of the Friendswood office. He retired in 1991 after thirty-five years of service. J. T. was united in marriage with Marilyn Cox on October 25, 1975 in Dickinson, and they lived in the League City-Dickinson area. J. T. had three children who became Marilyn’s family also, and one additional son, Clayton, was born to them. Clayton was responsible for the family’s move to Groesbeck. He visited in the summers at Groesbeck with Marilyn’s best friend’s family, Claire and Tracy Sims and their sons. He really loved the country, as did J. T. and Marilyn. After they were both retired, they built a home in Ridgewood Park and moved in 1994, with Clayton graduating from Groesbeck High School. J.T. had always loved horses all his life, and raised, rode, and showed horses both at League City and after moving to Groesbeck. He and Marilyn participated in trail rides, and took Clayton even while in diapers. The older children and grandchildren also enjoyed coming to Groesbeck, and grandson, Josh spent his senior year with the family and graduated from Groesbeck High School. J.T. loved to go to Susie’s and later Dairy Queen twice a day to drink coffee with his friends and discuss the world affairs. As his health declined the past few years and he no longer drove, he still wanted to meet with his friends when his wife or son drove him. J. T. was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Maurice and her husband Charles, Edwena and her husband Don, and his brother, Vernon. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Carlton of Groesbeck; daughter, Gwen Williams of Crawford; son, Jeff Carlton and wife Lou of Santa Fe; daughter, Pam Newsome and husband Tim of Little Elm; son Clayton Carlton and his wife Marilyn of Groesbeck; ten grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; and his sister, Mable Ann Carlton of Santa Fe. Also surviving are his mother-in-law, Elaine Cox, and Marilyn’s brothers, Hie Cox and his wife Tricia, and Tod Cox and wife Trisha.